Shot Put: How Hard Can It Be?

As part of his 2012 London Olympics video series, "How Hard Can It Be?", WSJ's Stu Woo gets two-time Olympic shot put medalist John Godina to show him how to throw. It's harder than it looks.
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[@danielso9485]

one time when i was 6 years old (im currently 5) i threw a 69 pound steel ball 420 feet. my parents were amazed, so i tried it again. by my 10th throw, i had thrown a 1000 pound ball so far that it collided with and destroyed the planet beyond pluto. now im currently training for the 1492 olympics

[@lukerich6641]

There wasn't an Olympics in 1492 stoopid.

[@bintin9808]

Luke Rich r/whoooosh

[@unusualgaming8629]

Gold Gio r/woooosh

[@bintin9808]

Unusual Gaming r/whooosh

[@unusualgaming8629]

Gold Gio r/wooosh

[@jaruto7743]

Just wrapped up my wrist and performed my first shotput throw. The ball hit Mars and created a landing pad for our future 2030 astronaughts. *Blessed*

[@10000subswithnovideos.]

jay nuna you forgot the hashtag.

[@Windermed]

Hard enough to squish avocados that’s for sure.

[@thornarts]

rantaro

[@ausername8770]

RANTARO 😭

[@iriskoh4868]

Oh believe me, I did shot put for 3-4 years, and even without the spin, the basic formation and process of throwing a shot put takes time to learn. It seems a lot easier than it looks, but u get called out by the referee if u just “throw” the ball.

[@DonLee1980]

The biggest heart break is the realization... yeah, the ball I had in middle school was 8lbs. No wonder I could throw 10 meters.

[@robbiebabson9177]

I'm throwing an 8 pound ball 37 feet and im in 8th grade

[@robbiebabson9177]

and I throw discus 95 feet

[@eimanhakim8402]

Robbie Babson im from malaysian could throw 19 meters

[@FeverDev64]

I threw a 12lb 7feet!

[@idkidk3378]

I am 13 and I throw a 16lbs ball 5,346,176,126 light years

[@mikotokayanosolos]

rantaro amami: 👁👄👁

[@sagepillars1702]

YOU DID NOT-

[@gunnardougherty2338]

I'm 2 and I throw 52'

[@whitebitchpimper]

haha

[@kyriaundavis5320]

yea right

[@kyriaundavis5320]

+PYSCO PEGASUS i know LOL man damn

[@whitebitchpimper]

+Kyriaun Davis (KJCuber) my bad...you scared me for a minute.

[@kyriaundavis5320]

+PYSCO PEGASUS LOLOLOL

[@DarkShadow0_0]

I am not alive and can already throw air ∞ ft.

[@BarbarossaSC2]

I'm X age, and I can throw X feet with a X lb. shot! But that guy in the video.. what a loser, am I right guys?!

[@denzelqualls8854]

Theodore M. K. So you're 10 years old and can throw 10 feet with 10Ibs

[@BarbarossaSC2]

Denzel Qualls nailed it

[@lol...]

AHAHAHAHA YOURE A THOUSAND YEARS OLD AND CAN THROW A THOUSAND FEET WITH A THOUSAND LB AHAHAHAHA

[@wolfurban3740]

@@lol... not that funny

[@lol...]

Wolf Urban ah yes, 2 years ago me was a bit immature

[@STBRetired1]

I can't thank you enough. I'm 68 and like to compete in the Senior Games. I've heard you are supposed to use your legs but never actually saw it demonstrated til now. I can't wait to correct my form and get over this plateau I've been on. Til now, I guess I've just been doing arm throws. I can feel the calf cramps starting already.

[@prkr3724]

I threw a shot 80,000 feet as a warm up

[@captaincobop]

oh yeah? I threw an entire tree 2270,000 feet and intercepted a ballistic missile. get on my level kid.

[@fatalgaming9599]

+Eric Martin well i threw 8 trees and caught 12 missiles

[@hadtodoittohim2492]

+Batman and Robin Oh yeah? I picked up a solid cement wall, then threw it and it hit a comet heading straight for earth. So, yeah, I basically saved the world. But no big deal.

[@captaincobop]

Deadbutalive Fish oh yeah? earlier this morning I lifted the fucking MOON and threw it at an alien space station that was on a collision course to earth, and then I channeled all of my strength to replace the moon and saved the entire world twice. I'd do it again in a heartbeat

[@itsspookytime5586]

+Oxameter57 I spit on the sun and it went out. It molded into a ball100,000 times bigger than the moon and I threw it 47484728472846286475729464836956294738374838474929474857294749294 kilometers and u try to say that number in words😒

[@mittROMNEY666]

I have thrown a shot put 76 feet confirmed. I have no need to have this record known and acknowledged, accept via the KZbin comments section. Please share your praise of my amazing feat below.

[@TooFunnyToLive]

mittROMNEY666 no

[@LOLCAMz]

If you're trying to troll you made it too obvious

[@TheDarThaum]

Your profile pic tells me that you're probs a guy that acts like he is a badass at everything. You do realize 74 ft is a little over 21m. I'm saying that is the distance world class throwers throw. AKA I don't believe your bullshit lying ass. Haha throwing 74 ft.

[@1XXDRUGSCANSUCKITXX2]

Coewl

[@erinbooker987]

+TheDarThaum there are kids in highschool who throw 70-80 feet in competitions.. I have seen them do it. I placed 60ft in the men's minnesota state championships. But some states there are kids who put that to shame. Do some research. FYI... my silver medal took place in 2000. In todays competition this is nothing now. 80 ft is easily doable.

[@BlueFire972]

When I was a freshman I threw a shot 200ft on a warm up #Huge

[@nathanielthomas8149]

I just fucking died

[@theservantofdarkness3557]

Lmfao yeah same I'm dying

[@Matt3]

Not true

[@longboy8998]

Omfg 200ft would be like an all world high school record

[@BlueFire972]

+longboy8998 nah man, I'm massive. Can bench 3,000 pounds

[@JulienNeel]

Cool video. :) I have fond memories of shot put, nice to get the vibe again from your video.

[@littlefairy4408]

Wow this technique is awesome to throw it I was so afraid how I can but this technique is very helpful.💗

[@malfunction06]

I knew that pit looked familiar! I ran in a few meets at this school during my high school track career.

[@nathanielstoppelman9630]

Why would they have him rotate? Why not start with the glide or even a shuffle?

[@nathanielstoppelman9630]

Okay, they gave him the glide afterwards but it should have been a glide from the start.

[@boyertb]

Agreed. I don't get that either.

[@veridicusmaximus6010]

Because the title of the video is 'How hard can it be?' That technique is harder.

[@BrownieKuma72]

This is just an informative video. It's not like he is actually training for the Olympics

[@bobbo2196]

So he can gain the infinite spin

[@Defnotken]

I’m still in my mother’s womb, and I can throw a ballistic missile faster the the speed of light.

[@alexanderdimitri1131]

i was watching this peacefully till i heard wall street journal at the end.

[@kalyanarajasekharbabu931]

its so easy steps you have showned me thank you sir

[@war_josh1550]

For real tho, throwing shot can be really frustrating sometimes. I can never get it perfect. Either I'll drop my elbow, my glide is too slow, my release, it's always something

[@brawlbro7384]

At first I was like 28 ft is pretty good with 12lbs and then you said it was 8lbsb🤣

[@cobbler88]

Dude. At 51 I just started throwing this year, and with a 12 lb shot. My ulnar nerve was about to explode when I thought that this kid had gone almost 30 feet on day one with a 12 lb shot. 🤣

[@sammybartick9897]

I needed this for an assignment. I’m doing I barely needed it but I still needed it thanks lol

[@djjsinclair]

love the throws!!

[@jazzz7220]

Kaaaaaaaeeeeeeeedeeeee

[@asakashigure]

as shot put thower myself, i personally took ballet for 3 years of highshool just to learn the spin tech. and even after all the training and the ridicule by others in doing ballet as a big burly guy, i was topping a 16lb ball 60 foot+ consistently , so with that said shot put is indeed harder then what it looks :) and for those who take the time to learn and go above "normal" training, the rewards of it are well worth it :)

[@omithehomi8568]

60+ consistently in high school!? I’m trying to get like you!

[@alexandergonzalez1922]

There should be one for Discus and Javelin it's really funny seeing these. The spin is really difficult it literally took me almost an entire season to learn the spin for Shot and Discus.

[@learningtimewithjoy]

Loved this.

[@Riceninjas13]

I'm planning to compete in shot put next week, and guess what? nobody has taught me how or anything so wish me luck.. yeah

[@medrano433]

Brynn same my coach does know how too so he left me alone to leave me figure it out but now I have to do research my self to know how to do it

[@lol...]

it's lateeeeeee but hope you did good.Im also doing it and I ever only held the ball once...

[@creeksquad228]

Brynn I'm doing it this year and my first throw was 25 feet though I screwed everything up

[@wasteofoxygen2198]

Brynn I hope you fail

[@tuuufast5821]

Waste Of Oxygen it was 4 years ago

[@32Gknight]

Im in highschool so i dont even spin, id rather glide or shuffle and my meet PR is 40"9"

[@DerickW.]

32Gknight I’m a sophomore practicing with glide atm. PR is 41 flat but I am not consistent at 40 at all. It’s weird man

[@fayskelley]

I agree, my training in figure skating has helped my tennis a lot. I started looking to shot training to get a better tennis serve ....

[@adithyams8405]

thanks bro its really helpful

[@crystalheart9]

I would like to see this on the Olympics but it doesn't seem to get any air time.

[@MrEUCT]

crystalheart9 truth!!

[@henrifin]

Now you will see! The last world champs was the best shotput competition ever and one can only assume the Olympics will top that!

[@Linda-yf2bc]

maby he should have thrown a 6 instead of a 16

[@Linda-yf2bc]

+The_ Crazy_Patriot well for girls shot put they make a 6

[@jerichohamilton1668]

truuuueee haha

[@Jen-jo5qu]

Fun story. Thanks for sharing it.

[@vivikanse6005]

last glide move was very help full for mi

[@Lm0956]

im 6 and throw a 16 lb ball 600000000 ft

[@westfal1000]

Ha...ha....ha not funny u cant throw 3kg

[@lukaseggers8929]

That's not too bad when i was in 6th grade i threw the same in 7th i threw 27 feet and now in 8th i can throw 35 feet

[@santrefosty2766]

Sure

[@lukaseggers8929]

not lying santre fosty

[@santrefosty2766]

Lukas Egroeg prove it

[@DanceLoveLiveLaugh1]

I almost popped my shoulder out when I first started to to shot put.. Ahah

[@AdityaKumar-wh8dr]

Thank u sir❤

[@beyman23]

I think the shuffle is my favorite throwing form,plus as a basketball player it's something im already used to.

[@majestic1278]

Shuffle?

[@jip1444]

+Majestic 12 it's seriously just shuffling across the ring. Super inefficient lol

[@majestic1278]

I think you mean the glide?

[@Matt3]

I glide

[@warriordragonify]

That's Traveling unless you dribble.

[@janeens_lucidity2531]

I may begin Shot Put in my 10th grade year. Hopefully they don't have the bowling ball weight one. If they do, hopefully I don't fail at it, lol. This will be my first time playing in a sport, especially Track. I'm not a good runner.

[@zacannon]

I started tack this year and only throw. I'm freshman. Once you get the steps down its not that bad.

[@janeens_lucidity2531]

+Zac Cannon oh good! I'm glad to hear that 😂

[@majestic1278]

High school uses 12lb

[@stonerized1782]

High uses a 12lb

[@janeens_lucidity2531]

Oh good! I think I can lift that up. I think 😂😂😂

[@strpwns800]

I throw a 50lb shot 328 feet.

[@nitinrao5673]

yes

[@miketurley8272]

excellent.u have great potential u will be successful at this. sport .good luck. dont quit.thx

[@hawlhu]

期待這麼久終於發片的說，馬上按個讚的說

[@thepotato5057]

I am not throwing away my shot!

[@dylanr4854]

Hey yo im just like my country

[@juneltulalian866]

I'm young Scrappy and hungry

[@dylanr4854]

and I am not throwing away my shot

[@_Nirreg_]

I'm 14 had a middle school meet today and I threw 29' 5 3/4"

[@julians5037]

Oh I am sorry that your mum didn't give you enough attention. But pls don't try to get it on the internet, ok?

[@fernando8246]

@@julians5037 sounds like someone can't throw a shotput 29' 5 3/4"

[@TheVatonaught]

excellent video...you did a good job of journalism.

[@apollion1]

man john has slimmed down since his throwing days big time

[@Pinkielover]

at 15 I threw about 42 feet not bad and not great.... my favorite was javelin.. favorite part of track just watching the girls

[@majestic1278]

Booty bruh. Jav booty was the best here

[@willshort1727]

+Majestic 12 no pole vault booty bitches who do pole vault have asses like you wouldn't believe

[@theleftuprightatsoldierfield]

Pinkie Love that is really good. The freshman indoor record at my high school is 37'10". I currently hold 10th on that record with a throw of 33'9".

[@maxgaylord8991]

Chunky Ragu 37 FEET. my middle school has a record of 52 feet. but I can only throw the high school one 28 feet.

[@theleftuprightatsoldierfield]

MUTkings0227 that record is insane

[@codywalden7105]

I'm 20 and I can throw a shot put 7 feet. Ima boss

[@drewapicture5526]

Goals af

[@kaylonmorris5872]

I'm 16 first day trying out shot put was 24.7

[@somadri8now292]

Evan Ventura im 12 and i throw 5 feet🤣🤣🤣

[@khalilcarney4156]

Wouldnt wanna get into a fight with you

[@MegicShiba]

Looking forward to my second Olympic sport in HS. winter is wrestling, im 255 lb, and next is T&F, doing SP and Disk.

[@michaell1199]

E. Lockwood what do you throw? im only a freshman but I throw 34-38 in shot and 85-95 i disc.

[@masoncameron7789]

His release made my shoulder hurt

[@areebahmed8969]

I'm 0.00000000000001 years old and can throw 204739202764939262739372394826284036284028 light years.

[@dudetipstor2922]

Areeb Ahmed your knowledge is of a .00000000000000001 year old because light year is not a distance 😂, it is how far a light can travel per year

[@alexanderjohn6908]

Dude Tipstor wtf? reread your own comment. lmao. "a lightyear is not a measurement of distance, but rather a measure of distance" pretty much sums it up

[@na7810]

Everyone. Stop. Bragging. About. Your. Shot Put. Record. Nobody. Cares.

[@gangshootamars8441]

Harmony Starr i care , about correct sentences

[@infernoblaze9799]

+Dominic Bob When did correct sentences start with a lowercase letters? Hehe.

[@wasteofoxygen2198]

Dominic Bob Then you shouldn’t have a comma after “care”.

[@swaralipighosh285]

amazing

[@stevebenites76]

What’s funny is in 7th grade I threw to the 35 line and I just realized I did decent I always thought I was bad because others threw to the 40 and 45; you have now restored my happiness thank you

[@ayyeclipse6204]

Nice lie, buddy. 35 feet is past the state qualifying mark in 7th grade. How could you think you are bad if you qualify for state?

[@jesuscarter4048]

@@ayyeclipse6204Yk state qualifiers vary by the state right?😭

[@ayyeclipse6204]

@@jesuscarter4048 man I was young asf when I wrote that 😂

[@IamKOKAYN]

i really caught this at 666,666 views.... after watching a sportscenter vid from 6-16-16... this is awkward. Welp this vid is cool

[@austin-wj9tm]

My friend Brian (biggest kid in school) can throw it 45 feet. We're in 8th grade

[@vindiesel1795]

That's my schools 8th grade record our high school record is 58'

[@Humbertorico20]

I throw 40 thats it

[@alexisdiaz4217]

austin1999 Holy shit. Our middle school record is 33ft

[@iosgamer9392]

Lol I'm 12 and I throw 60

[@AnthonyZemlyakov]

austin1999 im in middle school i threw it 47'9"

[@kalyanarajasekharbabu931]

Nice so clean video for basic learner

[@lanhthienkhoi3511]

Em nhất định sẽ cố đạt môn này. Cảm ơn và cảm ơn rất nhiều ạ 😊😊

[@Oscar-el9bt]

I threw 40'2 with the 10pound shot and im a sophomore 😂

[@kwcd]

+oscar trujillo XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[@itsspookytime5586]

Bruhh

[@majestic1278]

There is no 10 boi

[@Oscar-el9bt]

+Majestic 12 yes there is in highschool JV

[@majestic1278]

+oscar trujillo no lol im in highshool and in my state there is no 10lb only 12 no matter if you're jv or not

[@reiolo5718]

you don't even need to spin to throw further.. in my opinion..

[@bernie_bright]

It all depends - my friend can throw far with just power but I think the glide helps me get farther

[@MastersOfAll7581]

You can throw about 5% farther from a rotational thrown that you can from just a glide. Also, it's easier to save a spin once you get the technique down...

[@grant306]

A spin can make you throw farther. But as a younger shot put thrower, it is better to focus on easer techniques. There is a reason that Olympic shot put throwers, including the world record holder, use the spin technique.

[@gingerbreadman1372]

It helps build momentum

[@theleftuprightatsoldierfield]

Grant the difference is about 1-2 feet

[@dania9266]

I use the glide for my school champion shotput player

[@followedtodeath5850]

The glide is the only way to go about it for you.

[@prod.vin_]

I am in 6th and can literally throw the ball 592 cm

[@Strewgle]

You had to say centimeters...

[@westfal1000]

I can throw 7m but 5.92m is good too

[@justinmateo7500]

I threw 10.75m in grade 7 :O

[@brendanhernandez7995]

Shotput sucks ass

[@pppfan103]

Brendan Hernandez what do you do

[@YoureASquidYoureAKid]

How is this a Olympic sport but bowling is not?

[@kaylonmorris5872]

Distance vs strikes I guess an plus you don't throw a bowling ball like 20 feet

[@CBrown]

+TheSquidPartol Bowling is more of a skill game whereas this is equal parts skill and physical conditioning.

[@red81511]

Because it requires athletic ability and intricate technique

[@gourigujale5630]

Kah

[@BHSBengals94]

Jason you should try it. I started in 9th grade throwing about 32' at 190 pounds and look where it got me I'm throwing 55' at 245 and I'm going division 1. I too am a linemen so you have the build for it.

[@Youlong2001]

Love from Cambodia 🇰🇭 😂 😘

[@displayname1276]

Physics, centripetal force; so twirl until you hurl

[@manjeetkumar2163]

Nice sir

[@ActualJedi]

Where did you mount the camera for the throwing shots?

[@bradythebeast4670]

I use the 8 pound ball because I'm a 7th grader. I started throwing late since I'm a sprinter. A big sprinter, I weigh 160 pounds and I am 5'8. I'm also pretty fast I run about an 11 second 100 meter. So I started throwing at the end of our track season. I have only thrown twice and I am at 33 feet already is that good?

[@GOMLflick]

Tyler Schieman (something like that) He lives down the street from me. He threw a 55, not too many. But mainly it was 45s

[@jaem2796]

i'm throwing 31 6.5 right now, but my first season with it doesn't start until spring so I have time to improve.

[@tuancanhnguyen4806]

Như một nghệ sĩ ♥

[@fpsalazar2010]

The Gliding Shotputter says "I glide in 2 secs 37 degrees 900 lb power squat"

[@ElNinjaLuca]

Part 7 life action seems nice

[@PapaD104]

Not a bad first day! But when your coach is John Godina ...

[@howelln13]

When you spend it's about being symmetrical and having center of gravity

[@nuclearcoil]

I wonder if this can be used improve punch power. Without the spinning it looks almost the same as the normal punch.

[@happylibrary6519]

What do we call thisvsport

[@SchottenbauerVideos]

Interesting! Thanks for the video!

[@hunterwhitley123]

Is 5'8 short for shotput? Every one comments on it but i am the most explosive on my team, power clean 245 as a freshman so i think that is good compinsation.....

[@abham2411]

I am in shot put how junior high 8.8 lb ball and I throw 35 ft but I have the glide and wanna learn the spin move...any help?

[@jacksongibbon8102]

I'm in 7th grad and I throw the 4k 40'. I've placed 4th and 6th at USATF junior Olympic nationals as a 10 year old and a 12 year old

[@BeAsTm0dE10]

11th grade, 6'1", 186lbs. : 54ft 12lb

[@supermanmaggie94]

i dont know how to play this sport.. but i really want to learn cause it is interesting more than other sport

[@nicholasrapacciuolo8561]

I throw in the 11-12 division in shot and I threw 9.90m (32ft 5 3/4inches), and won gold at a official meet. Is that a good throw, or am I just average? I’ve seen records like 53ft and I’m wondering if I’m just bad.

[@drshiteaim8716]

A threw a shotput while I was in space, it is still travelling as I'm commenting, no one will ever beat me.

[@amywillow4210]

what do u use if you dont have a shotput????? weights????

[@neffie8]

My PR is 44-3 as a sophomore. Hope to be hitting 45-46 by the end of the season and she.

[@neowgicia3775]

Rip Rantaro

[@Jareanassica]

The glide is really hard for me !

[@jaker.dunker4574]

I’m 34 seconds old and I’ve just absolutely yeeted a 60 pound shot into the atmosphere

[@uhector1999]

The same goes with uppercuts in boxing all about the calf’s and hips.

[@uruiamnot]

I've held a marble once before. But I switched to a BB on the coach's recommendation.

[@irvincruz2758]

Real hard

[@memedealer6702]

Hi I am a seventh grade girl and I've literally only been training a few weeks and so far can throw an 8 pound about 20 feet. I really need to improve before the meet. Any tips???

[@yutye3212]

Just went in a regional school sports carnival, never done shot put before in my life, thought I’d give it a try and won by one centimetre

[@ARustyNail]

i was an 8th grader last year and my pr was 52'2 and that placed me 4th in the jr olympics the winner was 57'9 and it was with a 4kg or 8.8 lbs