World Records — Shot Put Men

The Shot Put Men world record stands at 23.56, set by Ryan Crouser (USA) in 2023. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

Record progression

Mark over the years. The higher the curve, the better the record.

152019001950200012.79 · Queckberner23.56 · Crouser

Record History

2023Ryan CrouserCurrentUSA—May 27, 2023Westwood, U.S.Ongoing23.56+0.19m
2021Ryan CrouserUSA—Jun 18, 2021Eugene, U.S.23 months23.37+0.25m
1990Randy BarnesUSA—May 20, 1990Los Angeles, U.S.31.1 years23.12+6cm
1988Ulf TimmermannGDR—May 22, 1988Chania, Greece24 months23.06+0.15m
1987Alessandro AndreiITA—Aug 12, 1987Viareggio, Italy9 months22.91+7cm
1987Alessandro AndreiITA—Aug 12, 1987Viareggio, ItalyEqualled22.84+0.12m
1987Alessandro AndreiITA—Aug 12, 1987Viareggio, ItalyEqualled22.72+8cm
1986Udo BeyerGDR—Aug 20, 1986Berlin, Germany12 months22.64+2cm
1985Ulf TimmermannGDR—Sep 22, 1985Berlin, Germany11 months22.62+0.40m
1983Udo BeyerGDR—Jun 25, 1983Los Angeles, U.S.2.2 years22.22+7cm
1978Udo BeyerGDR—Jul 6, 1978Gothenburg, Sweden5 years22.15+0.15m
1976Aleksandr BaryshnikovURS—Jun 10, 1976Paris, France2.1 years22.00+0.15m
1976Terry AlbrittonUSA—Feb 21, 1976Honolulu4 months21.85+3cm
1973Al FeuerbachUSA—May 5, 1973San Jose, U.S.2.8 years21.82+4cm
1967Randy MatsonUSA—Apr 23, 1967College Station, U.S.6 years21.78+0.26m
1965Randy MatsonUSA—May 8, 1965College Station, U.S.24 months21.52+0.84m
1964Dallas LongUSA—Jul 25, 1964Los Angeles, U.S.9 months20.68+0.48m
1964Dallas LongUSA—May 29, 1964Los Angeles, U.S.57 d20.20+0.10m
1964Dallas LongUSA—Apr 4, 1964Los Angeles, U.S.55 d20.10+2cm
1962Dallas LongUSA—May 18, 1962Los Angeles, U.S.23 months20.08+2cm
1960Bill NiederUSA—Aug 12, 1960Walnut, U.S.21 months20.06+7cm
1960Bill NiederUSA—Apr 2, 1960Austin, U.S.4 months19.99+0.32m
1960Dallas LongUSA—Mar 26, 1960Los Angeles7 d19.67+0.22m
1960Bill NiederUSA—Mar 19, 1960Palo Alto, U.S.7 d19.45+7cm
1960Dallas LongUSA—Mar 5, 1960Los Angeles14 d19.38+8cm
1959Parry O'BrienUSA—Aug 1, 1959Albuquerque, U.S.7 months19.30+5cm
1959Dallas LongUSA—Mar 28, 1959Santa Barbara, U.S.4 months19.25—
1956Parry O'BrienUSA—Nov 1, 1956Los Angeles2.4 years19.25+0.19m
1956Parry O'BrienUSA—Sep 3, 1956Eugene, U.S.59 d19.06+0.37m
1956Parry O'BrienUSA—Jun 15, 1956Los Angeles, U.S.3 months18.69+7cm
1956Parry O'BrienUSA—May 5, 1956Salt Lake City, U.S.41 d18.62+8cm
1954Parry O'BrienUSA—Jun 11, 1954Los Angeles, U.S.23 months18.54+0.11m
1954Parry O'BrienUSA—May 21, 1954Los Angeles, U.S.21 d18.43+1cm
1954Parry O'BrienUSA—May 8, 1954Los Angeles, U.S.13 d18.42+0.38m
1953Parry O'BrienUSA—Jun 5, 1953Compton, U.S.11 months18.04+4cm
1953Parry O'BrienUSA—May 9, 1953Fresno, U.S.27 d18.00+5cm
1950James FuchsUSA—Aug 22, 1950Eskilstuna, Sweden2.7 years17.95+5cm
1950James FuchsUSA—Aug 20, 1950Visby, Sweden2 d17.90+8cm
1950James FuchsUSA—Apr 29, 1950Los Angeles, U.S.4 months17.82+3cm
1949James FuchsUSA—Jul 28, 1949Oslo, Norway9 months17.79+0.11m
1948Charles FonvilleUSA—Apr 17, 1948Lawrence, U.S.15 months17.68+0.28m
1934Jack TorranceUSA—Aug 5, 1934Oslo, Norway13.7 years17.40+0.51m
1934Jack TorranceUSA—Jun 30, 1934Milwaukee, U.S.36 d16.89+9cm
1934Jack TorranceUSA—Apr 27, 1934Des Moines, U.S.2 months16.80+0.32m
1934John LymanUSA—Apr 21, 1934Palo Alto, U.S.6 d16.48+0.28m
1932František DoudaTCH—Sep 24, 1932Prague, Czechoslovakia19 months16.20+4cm
1932Leo SextonUSA—Aug 27, 1932Freeport, U.S.28 d16.16+0.11m
1932Zygmunt HeljaszPOL—Jun 29, 1932Poznań, Poland59 d16.05+1cm
1931František DoudaTCH—Oct 4, 1931Brno, Czechoslovakia9 months16.04—
1928Emil HirschfeldGER—Aug 26, 1928Bochum, Germany3.1 years16.04+0.17m
1928John KuckUSA—Jul 29, 1928Amsterdam, Netherlands28 d15.87+8cm
1928Emil HirschfeldGER—May 6, 1928Breslau, Germany3 months15.79+0.25m
1909Ralph RoseUSA—Aug 21, 1909San Francisco, U.S.18.7 years15.54+2.75m
1887Charles QueckbernerUSA—Apr 9, 1887New York22.4 years12.79—
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Ryan Crouser (United States) holds the Shot Put Men world record with 23.56, set on May 27, 2023 in Westwood, U.S..

Randy Barnes (United States) held it with 23.12, from May 20, 1990 until June 18, 2021 (31 years).

Elite Trackr's progression lists 53 improvements since 1887, when Charles Queckberner set 12.79.