In Olympic athletics, which event uses a 4-kilogram shot for senior women?

The women's shot put uses a 4-kilogram shot in senior Olympic competition.

The shot is a solid metal sphere that athletes put from a circle rather than throw it like a conventional projectile. Competitors must keep the shot close to the neck during the putting action and release it from inside the circle.

The men's senior Olympic shot weighs 7.26 kilograms, so the two implements are not interchangeable. The circle has a 2.135-metre diameter, and a legal put must land within the marked sector.

Shot put has ancient roots in contests involving stones and later cannonballs. The modern event rewards explosive strength, balance and technique. Common styles include the glide and the rotational technique, both of which are used to generate speed before release.