A throwing Olympic field event in which athletes propel a heavy metal sphere from a small circle for maximum distance.
Origin and rules
Throwing weighted stones is recorded in ancient Greek and Celtic sport, with Highland Games stone put a clear ancestor. The modern shot put was codified in 19th-century Britain. Athletes throw from a 2.135-metre circle into a fan-shaped sector.
How it plays
The shot weighs 7.26 kilograms for men and 4 kilograms for women. Athletes use the glide or the spin technique to build speed, then push the shot from the shoulder with one hand. The longest legal throw across six attempts wins.
Competition
The World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games headline the calendar. Ryan Crouser of the United States holds the men’s world record at 23.56 metres. Natalya Lisovskaya’s 22.63 metres has stood as the women’s record since 1987.
Find more sports by letter
Shot Put starts with S and ends with T. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Shot Put":