Here's an interesting find that may show American and German throwers, at least in the Men's shot put, are the majority of throwers who
may mainly care about the lighter weight implements after 50 years of age. Look at the
MastersAthletics All-time World rankings site and you'll see what I mean. In the Men's 35-39 list, 12 out of the top 62 throws are held by
Americans at a rate of 20% of the list. In the Men's 40-44 list, 5 out of the top 45 throws are held by
Americans at a rate of 12% of the list. In the 45-49 list, 9 out of the top 51 throws are held by
Americans at a rate of 18% of the list.
This is were it gets interesting...In the Men's 50-54 list, 24 out of the top 51 throws are held by
Americans at a rate of 48% of the list and Germans have 11 out of the top 51 throws at a rate of 22%. Both Countries combined is a whopping 70% of the list. It doen't change for the Men's 55-59 list. The Americans own 19 out of the total 46 throws and are at a
rate of 42% of that list and the Germans are 14 out of the top 46 at a
rate of 30%. Between both countries they take up a staggering
72% of the list. In the Men's 60-64 shot put All-time list the countries flip flop and the
Germans take 40% of the longest throws in that group with the
Americans at 28%,
both totaling 68% of longest throws on that list. Same thing goes for the Men's 65-69 group where the Germans take the cake with
49% of the longest throws and
Americans, 24%,
totalling 73% of that list. If the throwing world as a whole, were so pro-lighter weighted implements, wouldn't there be a better balance between countries as there is in the All-time shot put lists of the Men's 35-49. What say ye throwers, fact or fiction?