Italy’s Andrei Surpasses 75 Feet to Break World Shotput Record

Alessandro Andrei of Italy set a world record in the shotput with a throw of 75 feet 2 inches Wednesday at an international track and field meet.

Andrei, who was the Olympic gold medalist in the shotput in 1984, broke the previous mark of 74-3 1/2, set by Udo Beyer of East Germany in East Berlin on Aug. 20, 1986.

Andrei first broke Beyer’s mark with a throw of 74-6 1/2, then followed with another record-breaking throw of 74-11 before cracking the 75-foot barrier on his final throw.

Andrei, 28, a policeman from Florence, won the Olympic gold medal with a throw of 69-9. His previous best was 72-4 1/2, in Viareggio last year.

His record-setting throw surpassed the throw of 75 feet by American Brian Oldfield at El Paso, Tex., in May 1975. That throw was never an official world record because Oldfield was a professional.