There are two main techniques to hefting the 16-pound metal orb, the glide and the spin: "The glide is the traditional method, while the spin can give you more distance, but it's a little more volatile," says Michael Smith, former Olympic decathlete and CBC athletics analyst.

"The American men really have the spin technique down ... You spin one and a half times, and it all comes down to the length of pull. The longer you can torque your body the higher the release velocity, but the tricky thing is trying to match that with the best possible release angle.

"The glide is more consistent. You start with a crouch, and hop forward to shift your weight into the throw, but again, it's about the length of the pull and the proper release angle."

Interestingly, most of the best shot putters in the world and in their 30s, a testament to the combination of technique needed to launch the shot, as well as the mental challenge competitors have to meet to get into the zone and find a perfect release angle.