The top two from Tokyo returned; Gong Lijiao and Raven Saunders. Bronze medalist Valerie Adams retired with a complete set of medals including two golds. Gong got silver at the 2022 World Championships and bronze in 2023. Chase Ealey, now married competing as Chase Jackson, won 2022 and 2023. Jessica Schilder won bronze in 2022, Sarah Mitton was silver in 2023 and came to Paris as the 2024 world leader. Mitton, Schilder and Jackson were over 20 metres several times in 2024, Yemisi Ogunleye and Jaida Ross managed it once.
Two-time defending world champion Jackson surprisingly failed to qualify for the final. Jaida Ross with the first throw of the competition started the action off with 19.28m. Only Gong got over 19 with a 19.08m in the first round, Fanny Roos ended the round in third place at 18.47m. Maddi Wesche, whose previous top credential was 4th place at the World Indoor Championships earlier in the year, took the lead with a 19.58m. In the second round, Ogunleye tossed a 19.55m to get close to the lead. The big shock at the end of the third round was world leader Mitton missing out on a spot in the top eight, managing a best throw of only 17.48 m in the second round. World number two Schilder also struggled, with her throw of 18.91 m in the third round being her only legal throw of the entire competition. Nobody was able to beat 19 meters in the third round so when they re-ordered, Wesche had earned the final throw of the subsequent rounds. In the fourth round Song Jiayuan, 5th place at the previous Olympics put her way into third with a 19.32m. In the fifth round, Gong improved to 19.27m but it didn't get her out of fifth place. Ogunleye got off a 19.73m to take the lead. With the last throw of the round, Wesche had an answer, a personal best 19.86m to return to the top. Everyone was down to their last throw, but nobody could improve until Ogunleye. She launched a throw of 20 m (65 ft 7+1⁄4 in) to take the lead. Wesche had the opportunity to answer again, but could only manage a 19.68m.[1][2]
For the women's shot put event, the qualification period was between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. 32 athletes were able to qualify for the event, with a maximum of three athletes per nation, by throwing the entry standard of 18.80 m or further or by their World Athletics Ranking for this event.[6][7]
Results
Qualification
The qualification has been held on 8 August. 32 athletes qualified for the first round by qualification time or world ranking.[8]
