John Powell - 71.26M (233'9")

[MrHav1k]

My jaw is literally on the ground.

[SuperOlds88]

I think Powell was the only guy, and maybe Burns a little bit, that used the discus to help them turn out of the back of the ring. I dont know why more people dont use this technique. Its like a modern hammer thrower (after Bondarchuk) that uses the ball to turn faster, the discus can be used the same way out of the back of the ring, but everybody keeps it so far back at the start and they get all this twisting torque shit, like dragging a hammer. Like Powell said, KISS. Just my opinion.

[TheGrammerNazi]

@SuperOlds88 What do you mean by using the discus to help you turn out of the back of the ring? Could you explain that a little bit more?

[aeiou99999]

@TheGrammerNazi It means to throw the disc up high at 6 o'clock and rush to spin your body underneath and then ahead of it. You don't maintain separation from the back of the circle, but catch up and get it later. Puts disc and arm in better position at the very beginning of power but risky and hard to pull off. Btw, I don't think Powell is doing much of that here! Note his discus never gets ahead of his right hip.

[SuperOlds88]

yes Wilkins certainly did change his technique, I remember filming his warming up at the Kibbie Dome for a rare indoor discus comp, thats when I noticed a change. Burns was there also. I think the difference in comp for all the top guys is who was more skilled in the "vitamin" department. And what can you get away with. I know they throw far now, but I miss the days of Wilkins, Powell and Plucknett, and others of course.

[SuperOlds88]

I use to think Wilkins was a great technician too, but I eventually learned it was all bullshit. And he was taught that shit by Frank Morris. In fact I think Wilkins fucked up more young throwers who tried to emulate him than anybody. He threw far, but way too much unneeded motion. Guys like Bugar, Schult, Plucknett all were way more simple and more efficient. Man, I can just feel the eyes staring at the monitor, lol.....

[NHThrower8]

I will agree that Mac in his early years had too much unneeded motion. However, later in his career, he cleaned up his technique a lot and I would say that he was a great technician for his school of techique. Powell was also a great technician for his school of technique. It depends on whether or not you believe in the sprinting style or the wide sweeping leg style to generate the necessary forces in the back of the ring. Just my opinion and you are certainly entitled to yours.

[lilchristiandummer]

hey mestfan123 what year did you go to powell camp?

[70footer]

I was there to see this throw...it was Johns LAST EVER THROW that I know of and it was also his best ever...amazing

[xperia69]

@70footer

John had a 72.08 m throw

[sqrgrg]

haah i love brian oldfield! he's an ass but he's mad funny.. and he was on roids but it was legal then.. and wilkins has no technique compared to john powell

[earthquake9793]

yet wilkins has the world record

[Bigthrower101]

i thought Jurgen schult did with 243 ft

[Endevor3]

no jurgan shults does (sorry i dont know how to spell his name

[H3XZOc]

no he hasn't Shoult got it

[H3XZOc]

NOOOOOOOOOO

[throwerfan22]

mac wilkins was/is a master technician. one of the greatest technicians of all time.

and, in my opinion the greatest thrower of all time.

please, john powell's technique is good, but it doesn't compare to wilkins'

[Guambahjohn]

They aren't really comparable. They are both master technicians, but in different styles. Mac had a sweeping leg motions, whereas John used more of a sprint compact technique. Mac probably had better throws for one reason: He's taller.

[422anonymous224]

That's definitely a UFO, I mean, there's no doubt about it, it's a giant throwing a UFO, open your eyes!

[discusman71]

Aparently ya' don't know him..He's a great guy !!

[mestfan123]

Brian oldfield was also at the camp i was at. And made half the girls there cry. And he was on roids thats why his body is so broke down now. He can barley walk.

[mestfan123]

hes not dead? and hes not a drug addict. I went to one of his trowing camps. one of the nicest persons i have ever meet. Hes funny to. he moved me from throwing 150 to around 165 170. now brian olfield  err how ever you spell it, he was on roids and was an ass

[Endevor3]

ok...i was reading you comment and liking it and wondering why you have two thumbs down.....brian oldfield was not on any drugs and is a nice guy..... now randey barnes is another story

[colombianosa]

mcarthur's park is melting in the rain all the sweet green icing flowing down. someone left the cake out in the rain, i don't think that i can make it, cause it took so long to bake it, and i'll never have that recipe again.

[colombianosa]

yes, definately took drugs when throwing

[beinfavor11]

you sound like a jealous wanna be. Tell me you're not.

[colombianosa]

Wilkins is the greatest thrower, technician and coach of all-time.

[cdeavellar1]

told agree with that

[Wa5ffl3s]

@colombianosa

Your obviously someone that Mac trains personally, otherwise you would have NEVER had said that.

John is TINY. 6"3 and weighs no where close to Mac, lifted NO WHERE close to mac, yet he threw just as far and farther until he got old and mac beat him out. Mac was MUCH stronger, john however had far superior technique which allowed him to compete in competitions with those giant 7 ft olympic bastards.

Give respect where respect is due, John Powell is the greatest technition ever.

[throwscoach51]

Mac Wilkens was only 1 inch taller and 20 more pounds than John Powell. I cant speak to the weight lifting numbers of these men, but they had very different styles and were equally successful discus throwers.

[123teal]

@Wa5ffl3s Mac was only 2 inches and 11 pounds heavier than John when they were both at there biggest. So get your facts straight.

But I do think that John Powell was a great thrower and I have a lot of respect for him.

Also Mac is only 3 years younger than Powell so it wasn't that big of an age gap

[EndlersaurusRex]

@Wa5ffl3s I have this book which features lifting numbers for both Mac Wilkins and John Powell that were legitimate marks measured at a training camp, not some speculatory marks people throw around. Off the top of my head I can't remember the exact marks, but they were something like:

Bench: MW 405, JP 450

Clean: I don't remember this one, but it was roughly equal between them

Squat: MW 640, JP 550 or something like that

So it's interesting. JP had a stronger upper body than MW, but not legs

[throwerfan22]

@colombianosa sorry, I accidentally clicked the "vote down" button! crap, if I could vote this comment up 100X I would...

[BezemerPeter]

I see an UFO

[2pocky]

i thindfaskljfdaskl; jfdas 'ldfasld

f'sdlfjaskldjfaskldfjlke

[discusdoc]

John is the greatest technician of all-time

[colombianosa]

get over yourself

[1mafi]

IZ HE RELATED 2 SUZY POWELL?

[Wa5ffl3s]

Good to see John when he was younger. Him and Oldfield are still good friends, I usually train with them both (not always Oldfield, he is there on occasaion) at UNLV in Las Vagas, Nevada. Thanks for everything, John.

[badmanblottclott]

oh uh no problem Steve, why don't you come down to the ranch and check out my new mower...

[colombianosa]

I'm calling bullshit on that one.

[vatonaught]

I recall seeing him throw about 190 standing warming up...also a great shot putter.

[aaronkelvis12]

OMG THATS MY TEaCHERS HUSBAND. my teacher is wally powell and her husband is named john powell who was in the olympics!!

[metalial]

that is so sad

[aaronkelvis12]

y is that sad???

[metalial]

there is hardly anyone there to see it

[aaronkelvis12]

i dont get wtf you mean?

[leane200618]

great thrower !

[colombianosa]

great thrower, shitty person