Shot Put, Women

With only 13 competitors there was no qualifying round contested. The world record had been improved four times in 1975-76. Marianne Adam (GDR) threw 21.60 (70-10½) in August 1975, and bettered that with 21.67 (71-1¼) in May 1976. But Bulgaria’s Ivanka Khristova recorded 21.87 (71-9) and 21.89 (71-10) on consecutive days in July 1976. Defending champion Nadezhda Chizhova (URS) was back and was still a force but had been surpassed as the top thrower in 76 by Khristova. However, in the competition, Khristova struggled early. Chizhova took the lead in round one with 20.84 (68-4½), and bettered that with 20.96 (68-9¼) in round two though she slipped in the wet circle and injured her leg, after Khristova had thrown 20.88 (68-6). Those marks held through four rounds when Khristova moved ahead with 21.16 (69-5¼) to win the gold medal, Chizhova finishing second and completing a full set of medals in the shot put.