Men's shot put world record progression

The first world record in the men's shot put was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912. That inaugural record was the 15.54 m performance by Ralph Rose in 1909.[1]

b&w photo of a man throwing a shot put
Ralph Rose, American shot putter

As of June 21, 2009, 51 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.[1] The distances by these men were accomplished with a 16-pound shot. Rose's 1909 record lasted almost 19 years, and the record was untouched for almost a dozen years surrounding World War II. The record was improved upon five times in 1960 and four times in 1934. The record set in 1990 held for over 31 years before it was broken in 2021. The current world record was set in 2023. Since 1954, marks set in Los Angeles have stood for 42 of those years and counting.

World record progression

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Ratified
Not ratified
Ratified but later rescinded
Pending ratification
Mark Athlete Date Location
15.54 m   Ralph Rose (USA) 21 August 1909 San Francisco, U.S.[1]
15.79 m   Emil Hirschfeld (GER) 6 May 1928 Breslau, Germany[1]
15.87 m   John Kuck (USA) 29 July 1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands[1]
16.04 m   Emil Hirschfeld (GER) 26 August 1928 Bochum, Germany[1]
16.04 m   František Douda (TCH) 4 October 1931 Brno, Czechoslovakia[1]
16.05 m   Zygmunt Heljasz (POL) 29 June 1932 Poznań, Poland[1]
16.16 m   Leo Sexton (USA) 27 August 1932 Freeport, U.S.[1]
16.20 m   František Douda (TCH) 24 September 1932 Prague, Czechoslovakia[1]
16.48 m   John Lyman (USA) 21 April 1934 Palo Alto, U.S.[1]
16.80 m   Jack Torrance (USA) 27 April 1934 Des Moines, U.S.[1]
16.89 m 30 June 1934 Milwaukee, U.S.[1]
17.40 m 5 August 1934 Oslo, Norway[1]
17.68 m   Charlie Fonville (USA) 17 April 1948 Lawrence, U.S.[1]
17.79 m   Jim Fuchs (USA) 28 July 1949 Oslo, Norway[1]
17.82 m 29 April 1950 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
17.90 m 20 August 1950 Visby, Sweden[1]
17.95 m 22 August 1950 Eskilstuna, Sweden[1]
18.00 m   Parry O'Brien (USA) 9 May 1953 Fresno, U.S.[1]
18.04 m 5 June 1953 Compton, U.S.[1]
18.42 m 8 May 1954 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
18.43 m 21 May 1954
18.54 m 11 June 1954
18.62 m 5 May 1956 Salt Lake City, U.S.[1]
18.69 m 15 June 1956 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
19.06 m 3 September 1956 Eugene, U.S.[1]
19.25 m 1 November 1956 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
19.25 m   Dallas Long (USA) 28 March 1959 Santa Barbara, U.S.[1]
19.30 m   Parry O'Brien (USA) 1 August 1959 Albuquerque, U.S.[1]
19.38 m   Dallas Long (USA) 5 March 1960 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
19.45 m   Bill Nieder (USA) 19 March 1960 Palo Alto, U.S.[1]
19.67 m   Dallas Long (USA) 26 March 1960 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
19.99 m   Bill Nieder (USA) 2 April 1960 Austin, U.S.[1]
20.06 m 12 August 1960 Walnut, U.S.[1]
20.08 m   Dallas Long (USA) 18 May 1962 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
20.10 m 4 April 1964
20.20 m 29 May 1964
20.68 m 25 July 1964
21.52 m   Randy Matson (USA) 8 May 1965 College Station, U.S.[1]
21.78 m 23 April 1967
21.82 m   Al Feuerbach (USA) 5 May 1973 San Jose, U.S.[1]
22.86 m   Brian Oldfield (USA) 10 May 1975 El Paso, United States
21.85 m   Terry Albritton (USA) 21 February 1976 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.[1]
22.00 m   Aleksandr Baryshnikov (URS) 10 June 1976 Paris, France[1]
22.15 m   Udo Beyer (GDR) 6 July 1978 Gothenburg, Sweden[1]
22.22 m 25 June 1983 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
22.62 m   Ulf Timmermann (GDR) 22 September 1985 Berlin, Germany[1]
22.64 m   Udo Beyer (GDR) 20 August 1986
22.72 m   Alessandro Andrei (ITA) 12 August 1987 Viareggio, Italy[1]
22.84 m
22.91 m
23.06 m   Ulf Timmermann (GDR) 22 May 1988 Chania, Greece[1]
23.12 m   Randy Barnes (USA) 20 May 1990 Los Angeles, U.S.[1]
23.37 m   Ryan Crouser (USA) 18 June 2021 Eugene, U.S.[2]
23.56 m 27 May 2023 Westwood, U.S.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. pp. Pages 546, 557. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  2. ^ "Ryan Crouser sets world record in shot put at U.S. Olympic trials for track and field: Day 1 live updates recap". 18 June 2021.
  3. ^ Madeline Ryan (27 May 2023). "Crouser breaks world shot put record with 23.56m in Los Angeles". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 May 2023.