Weight throw at the Olympics

The weight throw at the Summer Olympics was contested at the multi-sport event in 1904 and 1920. Part of the Olympic athletics programme, it was the fourth track and field throwing event to be contested at the Olympics, after the shot put, discus throw and hammer throw. The latter three events, along with the javelin throw (introduced in 1908), are now the only four throwing events on the Olympic programme. Only men competed in the two years that the event was held.

Weight throw
at the Olympic Games
Overview
SportAthletics
GenderMen
Olympic record
Men11.265 m  Pat McDonald (USA)

Both competitions used the standard 56 pounds (25 kg) implement used in the United States. International participation was limited in the event which was mainly practised in North America. Five of the six entrants in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics were American, but Canadian Étienne Desmarteau topped the podium.[1] Given the lack of interest from other nations, the event was dropped for the next Olympics. It was revived once more for the 1920 Summer Olympics, held in Antwerp, and Swedish and Finnish throwers joined the American team and sole Canadian Archie McDiarmid at that competition. Pat McDonald, the oldest entrant at age 41, won the gold medal for the United States. His winning mark of 11.265 m (36 ft 11 1⁄2 in) remains the best achieved for the event in Olympic competition.[2]

The weight throw was again dropped from the programme after 1920 and has not since gained wide participation in track and field events beyond North America.

Medal summary
Games Gold Silver Bronze
1904 St. Louis
  Étienne Desmarteau (CAN)  John Flanagan (USA)  James Mitchell (USA)
1908–1912not included in the Olympic program
1920 Antwerp
  Pat McDonald (USA)  Patrick Ryan (USA)  Carl Johan Lind (SWE)

Medals by country
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States (USA)1214
2 Canada (CAN)1001
3 Sweden (SWE)0011

References
Specific
  1. Athletics at the 1904 St. Louis Summer Games: Men's 56-pound Weight Throw. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-03-22.
  2. Athletics at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games: Men's 56-pound Weight Throw. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-03-22.
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