William Patrick 'Parry' O'Brien was a US shot putter, active in the 1950s.
Wikipedia quotes the Los Angeles Times:
"When O'Brien began throwing the shot, the standard method was to rock back on one leg, swing the other in front for balance, hop forward and propel the iron ball forward. O'Brien instead began by facing the back of the circle. He then turned 180 degrees, using the spin to generate momentum and help him throw the shot greater distances."
This method became known as 'O'Brien Style' or the 'O'Brien Glide'. It has also been called the 'O'Brien Shift'. It enabled O'Brien to break the world record 17 times. He became the first man to put the 16–pound shot more than 60 feet, and won 116 consecutive shot put events. He held the world record from 1953 to 1959, and was Olympic champion in 1952 and 1956. He also won silver at the 1960 Olympics.
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