How it works
The shot, a metal ball (16lb for men, 8.8lb for women), is put (not thrown) with one hand. The aim is to put it as far as possible from a 7ft-diameter (2.135m) circle that has at its front edge a curved, 10ft-long, 4in-high toe-board.
In order for the put to be measured the shot must not drop below the line of the athlete’s shoulders at any stage of the put and must land inside a designated 35-degree sector. The athlete, meanwhile, must not touch the top of the toe-board during his or her put or leave the circle before the ball has landed, and then only from the rear half of the circle.
Athletes will commonly throw four or six times per competition.
In the event of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the second-longest throw, and so on.
History
The Ancient Greeks threw stones as a sport, but this discipline can also be traced to the Highland Games of Scotland where competitors threw a rounded cube, stone or metal weight from behind a line.
The men’s shot put has been part of every Modern Olympics (since 1896), but women putters had to wait until 1948.
Did you know
Randy Barnes’ world record is 3m longer than the length of a cricket pitch.
Gold standard
American men have an impressive heritage, winning six of the past seven world titles. East European and Scandinavian putters also have a history of performing well.
On the women’s side, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Germany are prominent.
Icons
Parry O’Brien
The American was the first athlete for over forty years to retain the Olympic title (1952 and 1956). He also won silver in 1960. He is credited with developing the 180-degree glide technique, which is sometimes known as the O’Brien Glide.
Astrid Kumbernuss
An imposing 6ft 1in and 196lb, this German was a fearsome competitor throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. She won three successive world titles (1995, 1997 and 1999) and landed Olympic gold in 1996.