Shot putting requires great athleticism and huge strength transferred from the legs up through to the arms.

Randy Barnes (USA) Born 16.6.66
Eight years after agonisingly losing out to Ulf Timmermann with his final throw at the Seoul Olympics, Barnes finally achieved his ambition.

He became Olympic champion at Atlanta.

With a last round throw of 21.62m he rose from sixth to first pushing the world champion John Godina into silver.

He still holds both the indoor and outdoor shot put records.

Astrid Kumbernuss (Ger) Born 5.2.70

Astrid reaches for the sky

She won her her first major competition at the 1995 Gothenburg World Championships by an unprecedented 1.18m.

She then went on to get Olympic gold the following year in Atlanta.

Her unbeaten streak reached 53 and even though she lost twice at the start of the 1997 season she then went on to win another 27 consecutive meets.

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World record

Men: 23.12m Randy Barnes (USA) 20.5.90 Women: 22.63m Natalya Lisovskaya (URS) 7.6.87