Physics-based models codify data, allow- ing a compact representation, making it possible to expiain counterintuitive situa- tions and occasionally giving rise to predic- tions that would have never been possible by just an analysis of the data. As such, they are pertinent to efforts to maximise performance in athletics events. However, applying physics-based modeiling to per- formers in elite competition involves real difficulty due to the dearth of appropriate data. The publication of the results of the biomechanics study at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, a joint project conducted by the IAAF and the Leeds Beck- ett University, made high quality data on a ränge of events, including the shot put, widely available. The author has used this data to formulate and answer three ques- tions on the performance of elite shot put- ters: What is the optimal release angle? Do the elite shot putters throw at an optimal angle and, if not, what would they gain if they did throw at an optimal angle? Using the dependence of the release velocity on the angle postulated by Maheras, he shows that the optimal release angle is roughly 380 and that elite shot putters "intuitively" optimise this angle so as to maximise their throw.
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