World Record: 48.20 Clrence Houser, United States Palo Alto, Uniyrd States, April 2, 1926
Olympic Record: 46.155 Clrence Houser, United States Paris, France, July 13, 1924
Concentrating on the discus and leaving the shot, Houser, who had
become world record holder in 1926 with 48.20, produced two efforts
further than 47m before Amsterdam and was favourite, though Hans
Hoffmeister had thrown an unratified 48.77 a week before the Games.
Houser led the qualifiers, but not without some angst, as he regis-
tered no valid throw until his third round winning 47.32. Until then,
Corson had led with 47.00 ahead of Kivi’s 45.79. Behind them,
Hoffmeister had a miserable day, throwing no more than 39.17. His
giant (2.02) teammate Ernst Paulus – third ranked prior to Amsterdam
– missed sixth place by 2cm with 44.15. Kivi improved to a personal
best of 47.23 in the fifth round, while Corson had his best throw in the
last round, but neither man improved his position.