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Nelson, Adam
- 2000 Olympic silver medalist
- 2001 World Outdoor and Indoor silver medalist
- 2001 & 2002 U.S. Indoor champion
- 2001 Goodwill Games gold medalist
- 1997 NCAA champion
- Improved from ranking of #6 in the U.S. in 1999 to #1 in the world in 2000
- Threw 72-7 on his final attempt at the U.S. Olympic Trials, the longest throw in the world in 10 years
- Suffered a torn pectoral muscle in September of 1999 while bench-pressing
- Won the 1997 NCAA shot put championship while competing for Dartmouth
- Played football at Dartmouth, starting out as a linebacker and finishing up as a defensive tackle
- Earned his degree in government
- Part of an athletic family. His father played center for the Mississippi State football team, his brother played rugby, and his sister starred in soccer for Dartmouth.
- Took acting lessons in New York City
- Originally a football player, Nelson was asked to come out for track in 8th grade by his coach, who handled both track and football: 'I was the worst 8th-grade shot putter in our group, but I stuck with it, and it paid off.'
- Says “Dream huge, think huge, throw huge!"
Nelson trains 4-5 hours a day, five days a week (plus two hours on Saturday). When lifting weights, Nelson duplicates the mechanics of his throwing motion, which helps improve his speed in the ring. He also credits plyometrics and bounding work. “My training is going really well, and you will see something really special soon," he said. At competitions, Nelson fires up the crowd with an animated routine before each throw. “I love it when the crowd is into it,” he said.
Related Links
Video: Nelson on setting personal best hi | lo
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Height: 6' 0
Born: 7/7/1975
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Resides: Athens, Ga.
Sport: Track & Field
Event: Shot Put
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