Shot put
Massive men, powerful women, capable of hurling an iron ‘ball’ very far.
But physique is not enough, you also need a lot of technique and years of preparation.
Weight throwing is among the specialties that most emphasize the component of strength and explosiveness. The implement used, by regulation, must be made of “solid iron, brass or any other metal not softer than brass, or a casing of any such metal filled with lead or other compact material.”
For men, at an absolute level, it is 7.260 kilograms, and for women it is 4 kilograms. Over the decades there have been two main techniques, translocation and the rotary technique. Whichever you choose, you have to throw the weight using only one hand, and it is essential to stay inside the circular platform, otherwise the throw is considered null.
The world record in the men’s weight is fresh. U.S. Olympic champion Ryan Crouser took it to a sumptuous 23.56 in Los Angeles in May 2023, having appropriated it in June 2021 (23.37) by snatching it from compatriot Randy Barnes after thirty-one years.
Instead, since 1988 the European record has belonged to Germany’s Ulf Timmermann, who threw 23.06 in Chania, Greece.
Among women the world and European record holder is Russia’s Natalya Lisovskaya, with an even longer record: 22.63 in 1987.
The shot put has its roots in ancient Greece and the sport of stone throwing, while a more modern version dates back to the 19th century with the Highland Games experience in Scotland.
Among the legends of the specialty is New Zealand’s Valerie Adams, a two-time Olympic champion and eight-time world champion between outdoor and indoor, undefeated in 107 consecutive competitions from 2006 to 2014.
Massive men, powerful women, capable of hurling an iron ‘ball’ very far.
But physique is not enough, you also need a lot of technique and years of preparation.
Weight throwing is among the specialties that most emphasize the component of strength and explosiveness. The implement used, by regulation, must be made of “solid iron, brass or any other metal not softer than brass, or a casing of any such metal filled with lead or other compact material.”
For men, at an absolute level, it is 7.260 kilograms, and for women it is 4 kilograms. Over the decades there have been two main techniques, translocation and the rotary technique. Whichever you choose, you have to throw the weight using only one hand, and it is essential to stay inside the circular platform, otherwise the throw is considered null.
The world record in the men’s weight is fresh. U.S. Olympic champion Ryan Crouser took it to a sumptuous 23.56 in Los Angeles in May 2023, having appropriated it in June 2021 (23.37) by snatching it from compatriot Randy Barnes after thirty-one years.
Instead, since 1988 the European record has belonged to Germany’s Ulf Timmermann, who threw 23.06 in Chania, Greece.
Among women the world and European record holder is Russia’s Natalya Lisovskaya, with an even longer record: 22.63 in 1987.
The shot put has its roots in ancient Greece and the sport of stone throwing, while a more modern version dates back to the 19th century with the Highland Games experience in Scotland.
Among the legends of the specialty is New Zealand’s Valerie Adams, a two-time Olympic champion and eight-time world champion between outdoor and indoor, undefeated in 107 consecutive competitions from 2006 to 2014.