per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. If an NOC had no athletes that qualified under that standard, one athlete that had thrown 20.00 metres or further could be entered. Competition format Each athlete received three throws in the qualifying round. All who achieved the qualifying distance of 20.40 metres progressed to the final. If fewer than twelve athletes achieved this mark, then the twelve furthest throwing athletes reached the final. Each finalist was allowed three throws in the last round, with the top eight athletes after that point being given three further attempts. Records , the existing world and Olympic records were as follows. No new world or Olympic records were set during the competition. Schedule All times are Greece Standard Time (UTC+2) Results Qualifying round Rule: Qualifying standard 20.40 (Q) or at least 12 best qualified (q). Final Nelson put the shot 21.16 metres on his first throw of the final, but that would be his only legal mark. He led until the very end, while Bilonoh had thrown 21.15 on both of his first two throws. The two were the last to throw in the sixth and final set, with Bilonoh before Nelson. Bilonoh's last throw was 21.16 metres, tying with Nelson, but giving the Ukrainian the lead on the tie-breaker of second-best throw (all four of Nelson's other attempts were fouls). Nelson had one final chance to throw another 21.16 or better; he threw a 21.30, but this was ruled a foul. It was, at the time, the fourth consecutive major championship that Nelson had finished second (after the 2000 Olympics, and the 2001 and 2003 world championships). In December 2012, Bilonoh was disqualified for doping following re-testing procedures, and Nelson was subsequently declared the 2004 Olympic champion. References External links Official Olympic Report M Shot put at the Olympics Men's events at the 2004 Summer Olympics