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.
As of June 21, 2009, 51 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event. The distances by these men were accomplished with a 16-pound shot. The current world record has not changed since 1990, the longest duration of any one record. Rose's 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.

World record progression

Ratified
Not ratified
Ratified but later rescinded

MarkAthleteDateLocation
15.54 m21 August 1909San Francisco, U.S.
15.79 m6 May 1928Breslau, Germany
15.87 m29 June 1928Amsterdam, Netherlands
16.04 m26 August 1928Bochum, Germany
16.04 m4 October 1931Brno, Czechoslovakia
16.05 m29 June 1932Poznań, Poland
16.16 m27 August 1932Freeport, U.S.
16.20 m24 September 1932Prague, Czechoslovakia
16.48 m21 April 1934Palo Alto, U.S.
16.80 m27 April 1934Des Moines, U.S.
16.89 m30 June 1934Milwaukee, U.S.
17.40 m5 August 1934Oslo, Norway
17.68 m17 April 1948Lawrence, U.S.
17.79 m28 July 1949Oslo, Norway
17.82 m29 April 1950Los Angeles, U.S.
17.90 m20 August 1950Visby, Sweden
17.95 m22 August 1950Eskilstuna, Sweden
18.00 m9 May 1953Fresno, U.S.
18.04 m5 June 1953Compton, U.S.
18.42 m8 May 1954Los Angeles, U.S.
18.43 m21 May 1954Los Angeles, U.S.
18.54 m11 June 1954Los Angeles, U.S.
18.62 m5 May 1956Salt Lake City, U.S.
18.69 m15 June 1956Los Angeles, U.S.
19.06 m3 September 1956Eugene, U.S.
19.25 m1 November 1956Los Angeles, U.S.
19.25 m28 March 1959Santa Barbara, U.S.
19.30 m1 August 1959Albuquerque, U.S.
19.38 m5 March 1960Los Angeles, U.S.
19.45 m19 March 1960Palo Alto, U.S.
19.67 m26 March 1960Los Angeles, U.S.
19.99 m2 April 1960Austin, U.S.
20.06 m12 August 1960Walnut, U.S.
20.08 m18 May 1962Los Angeles, U.S.
20.10 m4 April 1964Los Angeles, U.S.
20.20 m29 May 1964Los Angeles, U.S.
20.68 m25 July 1964Los Angeles, U.S.
21.52 m8 May 1965College Station, U.S.
21.78 m23 April 1967College Station
21.82 m5 May 1973San Jose, U.S.
22.86 m10 May 1975El Paso, United States
21.85 m21 February 1976Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
22.00 m10 June 1976Paris, France
22.15 m6 July 1978Gothenburg, Sweden
22.22 m25 June 1983Los Angeles, U.S.
22.62 m22 September 1985Berlin, Germany
22.64 m20 August 1986Berlin, Germany
22.72 m12 August 1987Viareggio, Italy
22.84 m12 August 1987Viareggio, Italy
22.91 m12 August 1987Viareggio, Italy
23.06 m22 May 1988Chania, Greece
23.12 m20 May 1990Los Angeles, U.S.