Shot put is one of the modern track and field events that is held at athletic events including the Olympics and shot put history goes back thousands of years. The sport although it is still a popular sport has a very long history that dates back thousands of years.
When doing shot put, there is a special style that is used to push the heavy metal ball out of the hand as far as you can. The sport mixes strength, technique and form and was included in the first modern Olympics held in 1896 as one of the field events.
Originally the event was done using stone balls and it can be dated back a couple of thousands of years to the British Isles. In Scotland the stone throwing events were used in pre-Christian times as a way of determining which chieftain was the most powerful and had the most military might. This event eventually became a part of the actual Highland Games.
In the Middle Ages there was a sporting event that closely resembled the modern sport where athletes hurled cannon balls as a feat of strength. It is from the days of using cannon balls that the word “shot” is derived and the word “put” had to do with the throwing style that was used.
The sport remained popular among soldiers throughout the 18th century although it was not until much later that the event became formalized and it was then included as an Olympic event. In 1948 the shot put was also included as a women’s event.
The balls are generally made of lead and there have been a few changes over the years in the style that is used to give the most powerful throw. Randy Barnes is one of the best known shot putters in shot put history as he introduced the rotation style in 1976. Shot put has always been a popular Olympic sport and it remains so to this day more than a century after the reintroduction of the Olympiad.
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