The men's shot put event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

The Americans, who had won all five previous editions of the shot put, including three medal sweeps, settled for bronze by Harry B. Liversedge.

The great Ralph Rose, who had won in 1904 and 1908 and lost narrowly to McDonald in 1912, and was still the world record holder, had died of typhoid fever at the age of 28 in 1913.

Ville Pörhölä of Finland, who would have been a strong challenger for a healthy McDonald, was best positioned to win after that injury.

The United States appeared for the sixth time, the only nation to have competed in all Olympic shot put competitions to date.