Six made the automatic qualifier to the finals, Ehsan Haddadi, Jorge Fernandez and Robert Harting on their first attempt. No new world or Olympic records were set during the competition.Īll times are British Summer Time ( UTC+1) Date Prior to the competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows. Each finalist was allowed three throws in last round, with the top eight athletes after that point being given three further attempts. If fewer than twelve athletes achieved this mark, then the twelve furthest throwing athletes reached the final. All who achieved the qualifying distance of 65.00 metres progressed to the final. Competition format Įach athlete received three throws in the qualifying round. NOCs could enter one male athlete in an athletics event, regardless of time, if they had no male athletes meeting the qualifying A or B standards in any men's athletic event. NOCs could also have an athlete enter the discus throw through a universality place. The qualifying period for was from to 8 July 2012. The A standard for the 2012 men's discus throw was 65.00 metres the B standard was 63.00 metres. Both outdoor and indoor meets were eligible. The qualifying distance standards could be obtained in various meets during the qualifying period that had the approval of the IAAF. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress.

Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – QualificationĪ National Olympic Committee (NOC) could enter up to 3 qualified athletes in the men's discus throw event if all athletes met the A standard, or 1 athlete if they met the B standard. The United States made its 26th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games. Ĭyprus, Jamaica, and Montenegro each made their debut in the men's discus throw. Kanter, Alekna, and Ehsan Haddadi of Iran were also contenders. Harting, who had won the last two world championships, was the favorite. The returning finalists from the 2008 Games were gold medalist Gerd Kanter of Estonia, silver medalist Piotr Małachowski of Poland, bronze medalist (and 20 gold medalist and 1996 finalist) Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, fourth-place finisher Robert Harting of Germany, fifth-place finisher Frank Casañas of Spain, sixth-place finisher Bogdan Pishchalnikov of Russia, seventh-place finisher Rutger Smith of the Netherlands, ninth-place finisher Mario Pestano of Spain, and twelfth-place finisher (and 2004 bronze medalist and 2000 finalist) Aleksander Tammert of Estonia. This was the 27th appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics.

Discus throw olympics