The women's shot put at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens was held on 18 August 2004 at the Ancient Olympia Stadium.

On 23 August 2004, Irina Korzhanenko of Russia was stripped of her gold medal and received a lifetime ban by the International Olympic Committee (as it was her second doping offense after 1999) after she tested positive for the steroid stanozolol.

[4] Accordingly, Cuba's Yumileidi Cumbá, Germany's Nadine Kleinert, and Korzhanenko's teammate Svetlana Krivelyova were upgraded to the medal positions.

Аs the next two finishers Nadzeya Astapchuk and Natallia Kharaneka had both been banned for doping offenses since 2004, the IOC decided to declare the bronze medal vacant (in the official publication of the results, Nadzeya Astapchuk is listed third, but without getting a bronze medal).

Each finalist is allowed three throws in last round, with the top eight athletes after that point being given three further attempts.