David and Goliath
Does weight confer an advantage to shot putters?
Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
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:
| Name | Weight (kg) | Distance (m) |
| Randy Barnes | 137 | 23.12 |
| Ulf Timmermann | 118 | 23.06 |
| Alessandro Andrei | 118 | 22.91 |
| Werner Günthör | 130 | 22.75 |
| Kevin Toth | 144 | 22.67 |
| Udo Beyer | 135 | 22.64 |
| John Brenner | 127 | 22.52 |
| Adam Nelson | 115 | 22.51 |
| Reese Hoffa | 133 | 22.43 |
| Sergey Smirnov | 126 | 22.24 |
| John Godina | 129 | 22.20 |
| Sergey Gavryushin | 95 | 22.10 |
| Sergey Kasnauskas | 126 | 22.09 |
| Aleksandr Baryshnikov | 130 | 22.00 |
| Gregg Tafralis | 132 | 21.98 |
| Mikhail Kostin | 120 | 21.96 |
| Tomasz Majewski | 132 | 21.95 |
| Remigius Machura | 118 | 21.93 |
| Cottrell J. Hunter | 135 | 21.87 |
| Mike Stulce | 122 | 21.82 |
Women's Shot Put:
| Name | Weight (kg) | Distance (m) |
| Natalya Lisovskaya | 105 | 22.63 |
| Ilona Briesenick | 95 | 22.45 |
| Helena Fibingerová | 95 | 22.32 |
| Claudia Losch | 84 | 22.19 |
| Meisu Li | 92 | 21.76 |
| Natalya Akhrimenko | 90 | 21.73 |
| Vita Pavlysh | 90 | 21.69 |
| Xinmei Sui | 90 | 21.66 |
| Verzhinia Veselinova | 95 | 21.61 |
| Margitta Pufe | 90 | 21.58 |
| Ines Müller | 90 | 21.57 |
| Nunu Abashidze | 105 | 21.53 |
| Zhihong Huang | 100 | 21.52 |
| Larisa Peleshenko | 95 | 21.46 |
| Heike Hartwig | 95 | 21.31 |
| Liane Schmuhl | 90 | 21.27 |
| Astrid Kumbernuss | 90 | 21.22 |
| Kathrin Neimke | 90 | 21.21 |
| Helma Knorscheidt | 90 | 21.19 |
| Heidi Krieger | 95 | 21.10 |
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)
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)
Getting Started
You could plot the data on a scatter graph to give you a feel for
any relationships.
Teachers' Resources
Why do this problem?
This problem encourages students to engage with a data set, pose their own questions about it, and perform some statistical analysis to try to answer their questions. The real-life sporting context provides a 'hook' to draw students in to speculation and discussion about how to compete on a level playing field.Possible approach
Display the data (or hand out this
worksheet) and ask students to discuss with their partner any
questions that it provokes. Then take some time to share these
questions with the whole class.
If no questions are forthcoming, it is suggested in the
problem that there might be a link between weight of competitor and
distance thrown; this is one line of enquiry that could be pursued.
Other ideas (which will need more data to be collected) could
involve height, comparisons between men and women, comparisons
between junior and senior shot putters...
Stage 4 students could use statistical techniques such as
averages, range/IQR, and scatter graphs to test any hypotheses they
make. Stage 5 students might calculate standard
deviation, correlation coefficients or a suitable
t-test.
Students could be invited to work in small groups on their
chosen line of enquiry. If computers are available, the tables of
data are contained in this spreadsheet, and
more data from the IAAF on shot putting can be found
here.
Once students have analysed the data and answered the
questions they posed, they could present to the rest of the class,
either as a presentation with time for questions or by preparing a
poster explaining their work.
Key questions
Do any data points jump out at you?
Does weight confer an advantage to shot putters?