As written in my first post about the Greek throwing sport, the Cretan shot put, there is not much of information and media available online. For that reason, I recently established a facebook team, so to be possible for all the funs of the sport, to post or find information, text or media, for the Cretan shot put. I am at the beginning of this attempt, so as time passes, I will try to get things better organized and also write the important posts in English language, to make things easier for anybody who wants to learn more about the game.
CRETAN SHOT PUT FACEBOOK TEAMFEW WORDS ABOUT THE CRETAN SHOT PUT
The beginning of the "Cretan shot put" is located around 1894 in Chania. In these years we have the first contests, the first athletes in the "Cretan shot put". In 1906, pan-Crete athletics games took place in Chania and the Cretan shot put was included in the program. Winner by a 12.75m throw was G. Giannoudovardis. In the first contests, carved stones in an oval shape, weighing about five kilos, were used as throwing implements. In modern times, throwers use the classic shot put implements of various weights according to what is determined for every age category of athletes. So, same to the shot put, in the Cretan shot put the weight of the shot is specified as follows:
35-39 shot put weight 7.26kg
40-44 shot put weight 7.26kg
45-49 shot put weight 7.26kg
50-54 shot put weight 6.00kg
55-59 shot put weight 6.00kg
60-64 shot put weight 5.00kg
65-69 shot put weight 5.00kg
70-74 shot put weight 4.00kg
75-79 shot put weight 4.00kg
80-84 shot put weight 3.00kg
85-89 shot put weight 3.00kg
90+ shot put weight 3.00kg
At the competition, the athlete starts his attempt by standing on an elevated base with his back turned against the throwing sector. From this position, the athlete jumps backward, turns his body toward the sector and releases the shot.
-The height of the base is not officially defined but may vary between 30-40 points.
-The throwing sector has no limits, so there is no throw that can be considered out of bounds and therefore void.
- The shot is measured by applying the measuring tape, at the edge of the base where the athlete was standing and at the shot landing point.
Vasilis Magganas is the record holder in "Cretan shot put" by a 17.88 m throw recorded at the "Vardinogiannia" track and field event in 1989.
