The event was won by Bill Nieder of the United States, the nation's fourth consecutive and 12th overall victory in the men's shot put.

Parry O'Brien and Dallas Long took silver and bronze, giving the American team its sixth medal sweep in the event.

The United States appeared for the 14th time, the only nation to have competed in all Olympic shot put competitions to date.

Bill Nieder broke the Olympic record first, putting the shot 18.67 metres in his first throw of the final.

None of the men could better that on their third or fourth throws, but Nieder's fifth went 19.68 metres to win the gold medal and finish with the new record.