David and Goliath

Does weight confer an advantage to shot putters?

Problem

 

In the tables below are some of the top performing shot putters of all time, their weight in kilograms, and the distance they threw in metres.

 

Look at the two data sets. Do any results stand out?

 

What questions occur to you?

 

Choose appropriate statistical analyses to answer some of your questions.

Are there any other data you will need to collect? 

You may wish to download this spreadsheet containing the two data sets.

 

It is suggested that heavier competitors are at an advantage in the shot put.

Do the data support that claim?

 

What would be the effect on the competition of introducing weight categories (like those found in boxing or weightlifting), or giving lighter shots to lighter competitors?

 

 

 

Men's shot put:
 
NameWeight (kg)Distance (m)
Randy Barnes13723.12
Ulf Timmermann 118 23.06 
Alessandro Andrei 11822.91
Werner Günthör130 22.75 
Kevin Toth  144 22.67  
Udo Beyer  13522.64
John Brenner  12722.52
Adam Nelson  11522.51
Reese Hoffa  13322.43 
Sergey Smirnov  12622.24 
John Godina  12922.20 
Sergey Gavryushin  9522.10 
Sergey Kasnauskas  126 22.09 
Aleksandr Baryshnikov  13022.00
Gregg Tafralis 13221.98
Mikhail Kostin 12021.96
Tomasz Majewski 13221.95 
Remigius Machura 11821.93
Cottrell J. Hunter 13521.87
Mike Stulce 12221.82
 
  

 

Women's Shot Put:

 

 

 

NameWeight (kg)Distance (m)
Natalya Lisovskaya 105 22.63 
Ilona Briesenick 9522.45 
Helena Fibingerová 9522.32 
Claudia Losch 8422.19
Meisu Li 9221.76
Natalya Akhrimenko 9021.73 
Vita Pavlysh 9021.69
Xinmei Sui 9021.66
Verzhinia Veselinova 9521.61
Margitta Pufe 9021.58 
Ines Müller 9021.57 
Nunu Abashidze 10521.53 
Zhihong Huang 10021.52 
Larisa Peleshenko 9521.46 
Heike Hartwig 9521.31
Liane Schmuhl 9021.27
Astrid Kumbernuss 9021.22
Kathrin Neimke 9021.21
Helma Knorscheidt 9021.19
Heidi Krieger 9521.10

 

 

 

NOTES AND BACKGROUND

Data source:  IAAF

Mass of shot for male competitors: 7.260 kg (16 lb)

Mass of shot for female competitors: 4 kg (8.82 lb)