Shot put at the Olympics

Last updated

Shot put
at the Olympic Games
1896 Summer Olympics - Shot put.jpg
The inaugural shot put in 1896
Overview
Sport Athletics
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen: 18962020
Women: 19482020
Olympic record
Men23.30 m Ryan Crouser (2021)
Women22.41 m Ilona Slupianek (1980)
Reigning champion
MenFlag of the United States.svg  Ryan Crouser  (USA)
WomenFlag of Germany.svg  Yemisi Ogunleye  (GER)

The shot put at the Summer Olympics is one of four track and field throwing events held at the multi-sport event. The men's shot put has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896 (one of two throws events at the first Olympics, alongside the discus). The women's event was added to the programme at the 1948 Olympics just over fifty years later.

Contents

The Olympic record for the women's event was set by the East German Ilona Slupianek with a put of 22.41 m (73 ft 6+14 in) in 1980, and the record for the men's event of 23.30 m (76 ft 5+14 in) was set by the American Ryan Crouser in 2021.

Two variations on the event have been contested at the Olympics: a two-handed competition at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, with athletes using both left and right arm putting techniques, and a stone throw at the 1906 Intercalated Games.

Medalists

Men

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1896 Athens
details
Robert Garrett
US flag 44 stars.svg  United States
Miltiadis Gouskos
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece
Georgios Papasideris
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece
1900 Paris
details
Richard Sheldon
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Josiah McCracken
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Robert Garrett
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1904 St. Louis
details
Ralph Rose
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Wesley Coe
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Lawrence Feuerbach
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1908 London
details
Ralph Rose
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Denis Horgan
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
John Garrels
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1912 Stockholm
details
Pat McDonald
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Ralph Rose
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Lawrence Whitney
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1920 Antwerp
details
Ville Pörhölä
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Elmer Niklander
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Harry Liversedge
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1924 Paris
details
Bud Houser
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Glenn Hartranft
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Ralph Hills
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1928 Amsterdam
details
John Kuck
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Herman Brix
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Emil Hirschfeld
Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg  Germany
1932 Los Angeles
details
Leo Sexton
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Harlow Rothert
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
František Douda
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
1936 Berlin
details
Hans Woellke
Flag of the German Reich (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Sulo Bärlund
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Gerhard Stöck
Flag of the German Reich (1935-1945).svg  Germany
1948 London
details
Wilbur Thompson
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Jim Delaney
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Jim Fuchs
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1952 Helsinki
details
Parry O'Brien
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Darrow Hooper
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Jim Fuchs
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1956 Melbourne
details
Parry O'Brien
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Bill Nieder
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Jiří Skobla
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
1960 Rome
details
Bill Nieder
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Parry O'Brien
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Dallas Long
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1964 Tokyo
details
Dallas Long
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Randy Matson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Vilmos Varjú
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1968 Mexico City
details
Randy Matson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
George Woods
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Eduard Gushchin
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1972 Munich
details
Władysław Komar
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
George Woods
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Hartmut Briesenick
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
1976 Montreal
details
Udo Beyer
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Yevgeniy Mironov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Aleksandr Baryshnikov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1980 Moscow
details
Vladimir Kiselyov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Aleksandr Baryshnikov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Udo Beyer
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
1984 Los Angeles
details
Alessandro Andrei
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Mike Carter
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Dave Laut
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1988 Seoul
details
Ulf Timmermann
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Randy Barnes
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Werner Günthör
Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
1992 Barcelona
details
Mike Stulce
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Jim Doehring
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Vyacheslav Lykho
Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team
1996 Atlanta
details
Randy Barnes
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
John Godina
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Oleksandr Bagach
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
2000 Sydney
details
Arsi Harju
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Adam Nelson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
John Godina
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2004 Athens
details
Adam Nelson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Joachim Olsen
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Manuel Martínez
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
2008 Beijing
details
Tomasz Majewski
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Christian Cantwell
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Dylan Armstrong
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2012 London
details
Tomasz Majewski
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
David Storl
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Reese Hoffa
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Ryan Crouser
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Joe Kovacs
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Tom Walsh
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2020 Tokyo
details
Ryan Crouser
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Joe Kovacs
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Tom Walsh
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2024 Paris
details
Ryan Crouser
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Joe Kovacs
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Rajindra Campbell
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Ryan Crouser Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2016–20243003
2 Ralph Rose Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1904–19122103
Parry O'Brien Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1952–19602103
4 Tomasz Majewski Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2008–20122002
Joe Kovacs Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2016–20240303
6 Bill Nieder Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1956–19601102
Randy Matson Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1964–19681102
Randy Barnes Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1988–19961102
Adam Nelson Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2000–20041102
10 Robert Garrett Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1896–19001012
Dallas Long Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1960–19641012
Udo Beyer Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1976–19801012
13 George Woods Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1968–19720202
15 Aleksandr Baryshnikov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1976–19800112
John Godina Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1996–20000112
17 Tom Walsh Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)2016–20200022
Jim Fuchs Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1948–19520022

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)20221254
2Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)3003
3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)2204
4Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)2024
5Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1225
6Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)1124
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)1001
8Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)0112
9=Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)0101
9=Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0101
11=Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)0022
11=Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)0022
12=Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus  (BLR)0011
12=Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)0011
12=Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)0011
12=Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)0011
12=Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)0011
12=Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)0011
12=Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)0011

Women

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1948 London
details
Micheline Ostermeyer
Flag of France.svg  France
Amelia Piccinini
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Ina Schäffer
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
1952 Helsinki
details
Galina Zybina
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg Soviet Union
Marianne Werner
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Klavdiya Tochonova
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg Soviet Union
1956 Melbourne
details
Tamara Tyshkevich
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Galina Zybina
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Marianne Werner
Flag of Germany.svg  United Team of Germany
1960 Rome
details
Tamara Press
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Johanna Lüttge
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
Earlene Brown
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1964 Tokyo
details
Tamara Press
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Renate Culmberger
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
Galina Zybina
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1968 Mexico City
details
Margitta Gummel
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany
Marita Lange
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany
Nadezhda Chizhova
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1972 Munich
details
Nadezhda Chizhova
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Margitta Gummel
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Ivanka Khristova
Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Bulgaria
1976 Montreal
details
Ivanka Khristova
Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Bulgaria
Nadezhda Chizhova
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Helena Fibingerová
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia
1980 Moscow
details
Ilona Slupianek
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Svetlana Krachevskaya
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Margitta Pufe
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
1984 Los Angeles
details
Claudia Losch
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Mihaela Loghin
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania
Gael Martin
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1988 Seoul
details
Natalya Lisovskaya
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Kathrin Neimke
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Li Meisu
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
1992 Barcelona
details
Svetlana Krivelyova
Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team
Huang Zhihong
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Kathrin Neimke
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1996 Atlanta
details
Astrid Kumbernuss
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Sui Xinmei
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Irina Khudoroshkina
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2000 Sydney
details
Yanina Karolchik
Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Belarus
Larisa Peleshenko
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Astrid Kumbernuss
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2004 Athens
details
Yumileidi Cumbá
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
Nadine Kleinert
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Not awarded [1]
2008 Beijing
details
Valerie Vili
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Misleydis González
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
Gong Lijiao
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2012 London
details
Valerie Adams
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Gong Lijiao
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Li Ling
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Michelle Carter
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Valerie Adams
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Anita Márton
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2020 Tokyo
details
Gong Lijiao
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Raven Saunders
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Valerie Adams
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2024 Paris
details
Yemisi Ogunleye
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Maddi Wesche
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Song Jiayuan
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Valerie Adams Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)2008–20202114
2 Tamara Press Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1960–19642002
3= Galina Zybina Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1952–19641113
3= Nadezhda Chizhova Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1968–19761113
5 Margitta Gummel Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1968–19721102
6= Ivanka Khristova Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)1972–19761012
6= Astrid Kumbernuss Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)1996–20001012
8= Marianne Werner Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)1952–19560112
8= Kathrin Neimke Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)
1988–19920112

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)63312
2Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)2216
3Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)2214
4Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus  (BLR)1113
5=Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)1012
5=Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1113
7=Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)1001
7=Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)1001
7=Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)1001
7=Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)1001
11Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER) [nb] 0437
12Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)0224
13Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)0213
14=Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)0101
14=Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROM)0101
16=Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)0011
16=Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)0011
16=Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)0011

Intercalated Games

The 1906 Intercalated Games were held in Athens and at the time were officially recognised as part of the Olympic Games series, with the intention being to hold a games in Greece in two-year intervals between the internationally held Olympics. However, this plan never came to fruition and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided not to recognise these games as part of the official Olympic series. Some sports historians continue to treat the results of these games as part of the Olympic canon. [2]

At this event a men's shot put was held and Martin Sheridan of the United States won the competition. Hungary's Mihály Dávid was the runner-up while Swedish thrower Eric Lemming was the bronze medalist. [3]

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1906 Athens
details
US flag 45 stars.svg  Martin Sheridan  (USA)Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Mihály Dávid  (HUN)Flag of Sweden (pre-1906).svg  Eric Lemming  (SWE)

A stone throw event, similar to the shot put, was also contested for the first and only time at an Olympic event. Athletes were allowed to throw rather than put the implement, which weighed 14 pounds (6.35 kg). Nikolaos Georgantas won the event for the host nation, while Sheridan (filling in for his absent team mate, Jim Mitchel) placed second. Another Greek, Mikhail Dorizas, came third. [4]

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1906 Athens
details
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Nikolaos Georgantas  (GRE)US flag 45 stars.svg  Martin Sheridan  (USA)Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Mikhail Dorizas  (GRE)

Two-handed shot put

At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics a two-handed variant of the standard shot put competition took place. Each athlete had three attempts at the shot using each hand and their score was calculated by adding their best performances for the left and right hands. It featured two rounds, with the top three after the first round receiving a further three attempts with each arm. [5]

Ralph Rose, a two-time Olympic champion in the standard shot put, topped the competition. Pat McDonald, who defeated Rose in the 1912 regular shot put final, took the silver medal. [6] Elmer Niklander of Finland came third and went on to place in the top four of all the Olympic shot put and discus events that year. [7]

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1912 Athens
details
US flag 48 stars.svg  Ralph Rose  (USA)US flag 48 stars.svg  Pat McDonald  (USA)Flag of Russia.svg  Elmer Niklander  (FIN)

References

Participation and athlete data
Olympic record progressions
Specific
  1. Athens 2004 Athletics Medalists. Olympic.org. Retrieved on 2014-04-19.
  2. 1906 Athina Summer Games. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-26.
  3. Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Shot Put. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-18.
  4. Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Stone Throw. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-18.
  5. Athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games: Men's Shot Put, Both Hands Qualifying Round. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-18.
  6. Athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games: Men's Shot Put, Both Hands. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-18.
  7. Elmer Niklander. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-04-18.