[2] The event was won by Pat McDonald of the United States, the nation's fifth consecutive victory in the men's shot put.

Two-time Olympic champion Ralph Rose returned after competing in 1904 and 1908; other 1908 competitors that returned in 1912 were Michalis Dorizas of Greece, Charles Lagarde and André Tison of France, and Elmer Niklander of Finland.

Rose had been dominant from 1904 through 1910, but countryman Pat McDonald had beaten him in the AAU championships in 1911 and 1912.

[3] Austria, Bohemia, Italy, Luxembourg, Russia, and Turkey made their debut in the men's shot put.

Greece and the United States each appeared for the fifth time, having competed in all Olympic shot put competitions to date.