Shot Put has existed as a sporting activity in one form or another for hundreds of years.
But it was not until the Middle Ages that cannon balls or shot were used.
So how heavy is a shot put ball?
Men’s shot put balls weigh 16.01 pounds (7.26 kg) for competitions, while women’s shot put balls weigh 8.8 pounds (4 kg).
Shot puts are made from a wide range of materials.
The men’s shot put competition has been featured in all Olympic Games since 1896.
This technique involves pushing the shot put, after it is held on the neck.
Two main techniques are used, which include the Glide and the Spin.
What Is The World Record Shot Put?
The men’s world record is currently held by Randy Barnes.
The American has been holding this record since 1990 when he broke the record with a throw of 23.12 meters (75.85 feet).
Russia’s Natalya Lisovskaya holds the women’s shot put world record, with a throw of 22.63 meters (74.24 feet).
~ Fun Fact ~ The technique used to launch a shot put is crucial.
Early techniques limited the distance athletes could throw this object.
In the space of about 70 years, the distance that athletes could throw these balls doubled. In the seventies, 31 feet was the world record held by J.M. Mann from the United States.
But by the time the American athlete Parry O’Brien introduced his new technique in the 1950s, he was able to reach distances of more than 62 ½ feet!