The shot put (pronounced /ˈʃɒt pʊt/) is a track and field event involving "throwing"/"putting"
(throwing in a pushing motion) a heavy spherical object —the shot—as far as
possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern
Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's competition began in 1948.
History
Homer makes mention of competitions of rock
throwing by soldiers during the Siege of Troy but there is no record of any dead
weights being thrown in Greek competitions. The first evidence for stone- or weight-throwing events were in the
Scottish, and date back to approximately the first century. In the 16th century King Henry VIII was noted for his prowess in court
competitions of weight and hammer
throwing.The first events resembling the modern shot put likely
occurred in the Middle Ages when soldiers held competitions in
which they hurled cannonballs.
Shot put competitions were first recorded in early 19th century Scotland,
and were a part of the British Amateur Championships beginning in 1866. Competitors
take their throw from inside marked circle 2.135 metres (7.00 ft) in diameter,
with a stopboard about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) high at the front of the
circle. The distance thrown is measured from the inside of the circumference of the circle to the nearest mark made
in the ground by the falling shot, with distances rounded down to the nearest
centimetre under IAAF and WMA rules.
Legal throws
The
following rules are adhered to for a legal throw:
·
Upon calling the athlete's name, they have sixty seconds to commence the
throwing motion.
·
The athlete may not wear gloves;
IAAF rules permit the taping of individual fingers.
·
The athlete must rest the shot close to the neck, and keep it tight to
the neck throughout the motion.
·
The shot must be released above the height of the shoulder,
using only one hand.
·
The athlete may touch the inside surface of the circle or toeboard, but
must not touch the top or outside of the circle or toeboard, or the ground beyond
the circle. Limbs may however extend over the lines of the circle in the air.
·
The shot must land in the legal sector (34.92°) of the throwing area.
·
The athlete must leave the throwing circle from the back.
The
athlete may enter the ring wherever they chose. Foul throws occur when an athlete:
·
Does not pause within the circle before beginning the throwing motion.
·
Does not complete the throwing movement within sixty seconds of having
his or her name called.
·
Allows the shot to drop below his shoulder or outside the vertical plane
of his shoulder during the put.
At any
time if the shot loses contact with the neck then it is technically an illegal
throw.
·
During the throwing motion, touches with any part of the body (including
shoes):
·
the top or ends of the toe board
·
the top of the iron ring
·
Anywhere outside the circle.
·
Throws a shot which either falls outside the throwing sector or touches
a sector line on the initial impact.
·
Leaves the circle before the shot has landed.
·
Does not leave from the rear half of the circle.
Regulation
Misconceptions
The
following are either obsolete or non-existent but commonly believed rules
within professional competition:
·
The athlete must enter the circle from the back (none of the rule books
contain such a clause).
·
The athlete entering the circle, then exiting and re-entering it prior
to starting the throw results in a foul (all the rule books allow an athlete to
leave a circle prior to starting a throw, but this still counts within the
one-minute time limit; the allowable method of exiting the circle varies by
rule book).
·
Loose clothing, shoelaces, or long hair touching outside the circle
during a throw, or an athlete bringing a towel into the circle and then
throwing it out prior to the put results in a foul (these are no longer rules
or never were rules—none of these actions provide unfair advantage to the
thrower).
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