The men's shot put event at the 1932 Olympic Games took place July 31. 15 athletes from 10 nations competed. The 1930 Olympic Congress in Berlin had reduced the limit from 4 athletes per NOC to 3 athletes.Official Report, p. 377. Leo Sexton of the United States won the gold medal, the nation's third consecutive and eighth overall victory in the men's shot put. It was also the third consecutive year the Americans took the top two places (including a full medal sweep in 1924), as Harlow Rothert took silver. František Douda won Czechoslovakia's first shot put medal with a bronze.
Background
This was the ninth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Bronze medalist Emil Hirschfeld of Germany was the only returning thrower from the 1928 Games. The top two throwers in 1932 were Leo Sexton and Bruce Bennett of the United States; Bennett failed to make the American team, however, leaving Sexton as the Olympic favorite. He faced strong challengers, however, as Hirschfeld, František Douda of Czechoslovakia, and Zygmunt Heljasz of Poland had taken turns as world record holder between 1928 and 1932.
Argentina, Poland, and South Africa each made their debut in the men's shot put. The United States appeared for the ninth time, the only nation to have competed in all Olympic shot put competitions to date.
Competition format
The competition continued to use the two-round format used in 1900 and since 1908, with results carrying over between rounds. Each athlete received three throws in the qualifying round. The top six men advanced to the final, where they received an additional three throws. The best result, qualifying or final, counted.Official Report, p. 453.
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in metres) prior to the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Leo Sexton broke the Olympic record with a 15.940 metres throw in the fourth round before breaking it again with 16.005 metres in the final throw.
Schedule
Date Time Round Sunday, 31 July 1932 14:30 Final
Results
Rank Athlete Nation 1 2 3 4 5 6 Distance Notes Leo Sexton 15.600 15.560 15.720 15.940 15.480 16.005 16.005 Harlow Rothert 15.670 15.675 15.430 14.990 X X 15.675 František Douda 15.610 15.240 14.490 15.050 15.220 15.330 15.610 4 Emil Hirschfeld 15.210 15.360 15.020 15.380 15.540 15.560 15.560 5 Nelson Gray 15.460 14.900 14.840 13.740 X X 15.460 6 Hans-Heinrich Sievert 13.870 14.990 14.750 15.070 X X 15.070 7 Zygmunt Heljasz 13.800 14.800 14.490 Did not advance 14.800 8 József Darányi 14.580 14.680 14.670 Did not advance 14.680 9 Kalle Järvinen 13.800 14.630 13.910 Did not advance 14.630 10 Jules Noël 14.370 13.910 14.530 Did not advance 14.530 11 Harry Hart 14.470 X 14.220 Did not advance 14.470 12 Clément Duhour X 12.310 13.960 Did not advance 13.960 13 Paul Winter 12.570 12.600 13.140 Did not advance 13.140 14 Pedro Elsa 11.770 X 11.210 Did not advance 11.770 — Antônio Lira X X X Did not advance No mark — Jesús Aguirre Carmine Giorgi Emil Janausch Pat O'Callaghan Georgios Theodoratos
References