throwing the 56-pound weight at the
1904 Olympics. The Weight throw has been featured twice under the name of '56 pound weight throw' at the
Olympic Games. First was in
1904 Summer Olympics held in
St. Louis, and then in
1920 Summer Olympics held in
Antwerp.
Étienne Desmarteau and
Pat McDonald emerged champions respectively.
Furthest throws in history Key: • O = Outdoor performance • A = affected by altitude
Men Notes Below is a list of additional performances (excluding ancillary throws) equal or superior to 24.48 m: •
Ryan Johnson also threw (2026), (2026) and (2025). •
Lance Deal also threw (1996), (1991), (1995), (1993) and (1993). •
Daniel Haugh also threw (2023), (2020), (2022), (2020). •
Libor Charfreitag also threw (2005), (2008), (2003), (2011), (2003) and (2005). •
Kibwé Johnson also threw (2007). • Daniel Reynolds also threw (2025), (2025), (2025) and (2026). •
Alfred Kruger also threw (2010), (2007) and (2012). • Mike Lihrman also threw (2015). •
Conor McCullough also threw (2018).
Women Notes Below is a list of additional (indoor) performances (excluding ancillary throws) equal or superior to 24.11 m: •
Gwen Berry also threw (2018), (2018), (2017), (2013), (2016) and (2014). •
Brittany Riley also threw (2008), (2012), (2007) and (2012). • Shey Taiwo also threw (2022). •
Janeah Stewart also threw (2019), (2020), (2019), (2019), (2020), (2020), (2024) and (2023). •
Brooke Andersen also threw (2023), (2024), (2024). •
Erin Reese also threw (2021), (2023). •
Jalani Davis also threw (2026), (2024), (2023), (2023). •
DeAnna Price also threw (2020), (2019), (2019), (2018) and (2017). •
Amber Campbell also threw (2010), (2007), (2009), (2016) and (2010). •
Anthonett Nabwe also threw (2026) and (2025). • Rachel Tanczos also threw (2023), (2024). •
Annette Echikunwoke also threw (2023). •
Oyesade Olatoye also threw (2019). •
Giovanna Meeks also threw (2026). Note that Gwen Berry threw 24.35 m in 2016 but the performance was annulled due to violation of anti-doping procedures
Other international competitions The event, held outdoors and indoors, is a
World Championship and
world record event in
World Masters Athletics. Outdoors, it is also the final event of the
Throws pentathlon.
Masters athletics has different weight specifications for different age groups.
As an indoor event The weight throw is an indoor
track and field event, predominately in the US. The technique implemented to throw the weight is similar to that of the
hammer throw in outdoor competition. In international competition, the men's weight is a 35 lb ball (25 for high school) with a D-ring or triangle handle attached directly to the weight. The technique in wide use is to start in a throwing circle with the thrower's back to the landing area. The weight is then swung overhead to gain momentum before transitioning into the spinning position. The thrower then turns heel to toe up to four times across the ring and toward the front of the circle. At the front of the circle, the thrower releases the weight over his/her shoulder and into the landing area. The landing area is a sector of 34.92° which is identical to the
Hammer throw,
Discus throw and
Shot Put. Because of the demands of the landing area,
USATF rules allow for the event as part of an indoor meet to be held outdoors. The world best for men is 25.41 m (outdoor) and (indoor) and is held by American
Lance Deal. For women, who throw a weight of 20 lb, the world best is (outdoor) set by
Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois University on 27 January 2007 and 25.60 m (indoor), by
Gwen Berry, on 4 March 2017. The weight throw event has had an enduring history in American track and field. It was a national championship event for men outdoors from 1878 to 1965. Despite the decline of such outdoor contests in the United States, the event has been a mainstay of the
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships: the men's 35 lb event has been held from 1932 to present and a women's 20 lb weight throw event was introduced in 1991. The weight throw is also present on the event programme of the
NCAA Men's and
NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Superweight Throw uses implements similar in construction to the regular weight throw but with heavier implements. The event was part of two Olympic Games in 1904 and 1920. Though no longer officially sanctioned by
World Athletics, it still is contested as a novelty event at various competitions, including the USATF Master's Indoor Championship. ==References==