Shot putting is one of the throwing events in athletics. The athletes have three tries in which to throw the shot as far as they can.The shot weighs a little over seven kilos for men and four kilos for women. For the throw to be valid, the putter must not step outside the circle.So far two athletes have succeeded in winning two consecutive Olympic titles: the American Ralph Rose, nicknamed "Baby Elephant" at the beginning of the century, and his compatriot O'Brien in the 1950s.