Previews04 Mar 2014


Men's shot put preview – IAAF World Indoor Championships Sopot 2014

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Ryan Whiting of the USA celebrates after winning gold in the men's Shot Put - WIC Istanbul (© Getty Images)

Defending champion Ryan Whiting uncorked a stunning 22.23m to win the US title and will have high hopes of matching the gold he won in Istanbul two years ago.

Any improvement on his recent indoor PB would see him break the longest-standing championship record at the World Indoors, as Ulf Timmerman's mark of 22.24m has stood since 1987.

Whiting's US team-mate Kurt Roberts, with 21.50m, and Germany’s two-time world outdoor champion David Storl are next on the 2014 world list.

Storl is the ultimate championship performer and was Whiting's closest challenger in Istanbul in 2012 before going on to surprisingly defeat his US rival at last year's World Championships.

However, home advantage could help Tomasz Majewski. The two-time Olympic champion has already been in winning form in the ERGO Arena, having thrown a season’s best of 20.70m to win the Polish title.

Argentina has never had a medallist at the World Indoor Championships, but shot putter German Lauro could make history for his country. The world and Olympic finalist set a South American indoor record of 21.04m in his only competition of 2014 so far.

Simon Turnbull for the IAAF

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