Shot Put

In this event the athletes have to "put" (not throw, rather push) a so-called shot (which is a metal ball weighing 7,257 kg and 6 kg for the juniors) from a concrete circle 2,135 m in diameter with a toe board 10 cm high as far as possible. To achieve good distances an athlete mainly needs strong arms (and body mass) but also technical skills.

An attempt is not valid if the athlete does not exit the circle from the rear half, if he touches the outside or the border of the circle or the top of the toe board in any way or if the ball lands outside the 40° sector.

Two putting styles are used by athletes - the glide and the spin - though the glide is easier, less risky and thereby more popular among decathletes. In the glide technique (also called O'Brien technique) the putter faces backward, quickly rotates 180° across the circle and then releases the shot. In the spin style, which enables further throws in general, the athlete rotates like a discus thrower.

Good putters among the decathletes like Maurice Smith can achieve throws longer than 17 m (corresponding to 913 points; 10 points for 15 cm)

Some of the best decathletes in this event with their PBs:

• Michael Smith (CAN) - 18,03 m
• Maurice Smith (JAM) - 17,78 m
• Tomas Dvorak (CZE) - 16,88 m
• Aleksei Drozdov (RUS) - 16,61 m
• Pascal Behrenbruch (GER) - 16,58 m

To compare the current world record for this event is 23,12 m, held by Randy Barnes.