The women's shot put was an event at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.

[1] Galina Zybina left the previous Olympics with the world record at 15.28 m (50 ft 1+1⁄2 in).

In the first round, returning silver medalist Marianne Werner set the new record with 15.61m.

That only stood until Zybina threw 16.35m, to add a meter to the old record and surpass Werner by over two feet.

Zybina answered with her best attempt of the day, but 16.53m would no longer qualify as the Olympic record and only got her a silver medal.