| Nationality: | South African and Italian |
| National Team: | Italy (2021-) |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Event: | Shot put |
| Club: |
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| Birth Date: | 1995 9, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Amanzimtoti, South Africa[2] |
| Coach: | Paolo Dal Soglio |
| Pb: |
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Zane Weir (born 7 September 1995) is an Italian shot putter of South African descent. He has represented Italy since February 2020,[3] and competed for them at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[4] He won gold at the 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Weir was born and raised in Amanzimtoti, South Africa. He studied at Westville Boys' High School and the University of Cape Town. A South African with Italian heritage, Weir said it was his having listened to his grandfather Mario's sporting tales of his time in Italy,[5] that made him decide to represent Italy after completing his degree in finance and accounting. His grandfather had been a keen sportsman.[6]
He produced a personal best of 21.11 m in February 2021 – 1 cm over the qualifying mark to book his spot for the trip to Japan and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[7] [2]
In May 2021, at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha he finished 5th.[8]
In the delayed 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 2021, he placed 5th overall in the Qualification round on August 3, 2021, after finishing 3rd in group B with a personal best toss of 21.25. Two days later, he placed again 5th in the Olympic final, with a new PB of 21.41.
He produced another new personal best on September 5, 2021, at the Meeting Città di Padova in Italy with a mark of 21.63 m,[9] improving his personal best from Tokyo 2020 by 22 centimeters,[10] improved again in Caorle on 19 September, to bring it to 21.66 m.
He improved his personal record on March 13, 2022 at the 2022 European Throwing Cup, in Leiria with a mark of 21.99 m, winning the competition.
Weir broke the Italian indoor national record on the way to throwing 22.06 and winning gold at the 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul, on March 3, 2023.[11]
He was selected for the shot put competition at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he qualified for the final.[12]
He improved his personal record on September 3, 2023 at the Meeting Città di Padova with a mark of 22.44 m.[13]
In February 2024, he won the Italian indoor national title with a throw of 21.69m.[14]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Measure | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Olympic Games |  Tokyo | 5th | Shot put | 21.41 m | ||
| 2022 | World Indoor Championships |  Belgrade | 6th | Shot put | 21.67 m | ||
| European Throwing Cup | Leiria | bgcolor=gold | 1st | Shot put | 21.99 m | ||
| 2023 | European Indoor Championships |  Istanbul | bgcolor=gold | 1st | Shot put | 22.06 m | |
| European Throwing Cup | Leiria | 3rd | Shot put | 20.98 m |