CHRISTIAN CANTWELL
Event: Shot Put
Height: 6-5
Weight: 300
PRs: Shot Put - 22.54m/73-11.50 (2004)
Born: September 30, 1980, Jefferson City, Mo.
Current Residence: Columbia, Mo.
High School: Eldon High School, (Eldon, Mo.) '99
College: Missouri '03
Coach: Rick McGuire
Agent: John Nubani
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: 2009 World Outdoor champion; 2008 Olympic silver medalist; 2008 Olympic Trials runner-up; Two-time World Indoor champion ('04, '08); 2009 USA Outdoor champion; Three-time U.S. Indoor champion (’04, ’07, '08); 2007 Indoor Visa champion; 2003 World Athletics Final champion

Cantwell captured the first World Outdoor Championship gold medal of his career at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. Cantwell grabbed the early lead in the competition with his first round throw of 21.54 meters/70 feet 8 inches. 2008 Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland wrested the lead from Cantwell with his fourth-round toss of 21.68m/71-1.50, and increased it in round 5 when he threw 21.91m/71-10.75. Cantwell needed a clutch performance late in the competition and got it in round 5 with his winning throw of 22.03m/72-3.50, which was the third best throw in the world that outdoor season. Cantwell ended the 2009 outdoor season with the three best throws in the world, his best coming on August 31 in Zagreb with his toss of 22.16m/72-8.50. Cantwell saved his best throw for last at the 2008 Olympic Games with a mark of 21.09m/69-2.5, to move from fifth to second in the sixth and final round of throwing in winning the silver medal. Cantwell's 2008 season got off to a brilliant start after an up and down 2007 campaign with his third career USA Indoor championship and second gold medal winning performance at a World Indoor Championships. He also qualified for his first Olympic team through his runner-up performance at the 2008 Olympic with his toss of 21.71m/71-2.75 on his sixth and final attempt. Cantwell cemented his victory in the men's shot put at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Championships with his first throw of 21.72meters /71 feet 3.5 inches. Cantwell had led the 2007 Visa Championship Series since his winning heave of 21.88m/71-9 at the 100th Millrose Games earned him 1,233 points. For his championship performance, Cantwell won $25,000 from Visa. In 2006, Cantwell posted the top-three outdoor throws in the world, and six of the top eight throws. Cantwell commanded world attention with his gold medal-winning performance at the 2004 World Indoor Championships, and by posting the top four throws in the world that outdoor season before ending the campaign ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News. Despite his disappointing fourth place finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials, where he fouled on all but one of his attempts to end a 14-meet winning streak, Cantwell threw 21.95m/72-0.25 early in the year at Columbia, which is the best indoor shot put performance by an American since 1989…his outdoor PR came at the 2004 adidas Oregon Track Classic (22.54/73-11.50)...Cantwell made a huge splash by winning the 2003 World Athletics Final in Monaco against many of the world’s best shot putters, concluding a 2003 season that saw the 23-year-old set a new personal best (21.62/70-11.25) and break the 70-foot barrier for the second consecutive season…he followed up by winning the 2004 U.S. & World Indoor titles…Cantwell in 2002 had two throws over 70 feet outdoors, and finished second to Adam Nelson at USA Indoors with a best of 20.86m/68-5.25…a six-time All-American, three-time Big 12 Champion, and 13-time All-Big 12 performer…named Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2000…scored 20 points at the 2002 Big 12 Championships (shot put – 1st, hammer – 3rd, discus – 5th)…Olympic Trials qualifier as a freshman…a hotel and restaurant management major at Missouri…owns PRs of 57.19/187-7 in the hammer and 59.31m/194-7 in the discus. Married Terri Steer in 2005...the couple had their first child on May 27, 2008, a son named Jackson Daniel.

2009: World Outdoor champion (22.03m/72-3.50)...USA Outdoor champion (21.82m/71-7.25)...1st at Dakar (21.53m/70-7.75)…2nd at Drake Relays (21.00m/68-10.75)…4th at Nike Prefontaine Classic (20.99m/68-10.5)...1st at Zagreb (22.16m/72-8.50)...ranked #1 in world by T&FN...best of 22.16m/72-8.50.
2008: Olympic Games silver medalist (21.09m/69-2.50)… World Indoor champ (21.77m/71-5.25)…2nd at Olympic Trials (21.71m/71-02.75)…3rd at Reebok Grand Prix (20.83m/68-4.25)…1st at adidas Track Classic (21.39m/70-2.25)… USA Indoor champ (21.51m/70-7)…1st at Modesto Relays (21.76m/71-4.75)…ranked #2 in world, #1 U.S. by T&FN...best of 21.77m/71-5.25i
2007: 5th at AT&T USA Outdoor Championships (20.14m/66-1)…USA Indoor champion (21.72m/71-3.5)…Indoor Visa champion…1st at Millrose Games (21.88m/71-9)…2nd at Reebok Boston Indoor Games (21.36m/70-1)…1st at adidas Track Classic (21.96m/72-0.75)…Nike Prefontaine Classic champion (21.83m/71-7.5)…ranked #3 in world & U.S. by T&FN…best of 21.96m/72-0.75.
 2006: 3rd at USA Outdoor (21.89m/ 71-10)…1st at Gateshead (22.45m/73-8WL)…USA Indoor runner-up (21.10m/69-2.75)…10th in qualifying at World Indoor Champs (19.90m/65-3.5)…1st at Nike Prefontaine Classic (22.17m/72-9)… 1st at Drake Relays (22.10m/72-6.25)…ranked #2 in world & U.S. by T&FN…best of 22.45m/73-8WL.
2005: USA Outdoor champion (21.64m/71-0)…5th at World Outdoor Champs (20.87m/68-5.75)...1st at Huelva on 6/7 (21.32m/69-11.25)…1st at Seville meet on 6/4 (21.67m/71-1.25)…4th at USA Indoors (20.57m/67-6)...ranked #6 in world (#4 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 21.67m/71-1.25.
2004: World Indoor champion (21.49m/70-6.25)…USA Indoors champion (21.26m/69-9)…4th at Olympic Trials (20.56m/67-5.5)…1st at adidas Oregon Track Classic (22.54m/73-11.5PR)… 1st at Nike Prefontaine Classic (21.74m/71-4)…1st at Home Depot (22.35m/73-4)…1st at Columbia (21.95m/72-0.25i)…mark was best indoors by an American since 1989…1st at Manhattan (21.11m/69-3.25)…1st at Drake Relays (20.64m/67-8.75)…1st in SP at Verizon Millrose Games (21.28m/69-9.75)…ranked #1 in the world by T&FN…best of 22.54m/73-11.5PR.
2003: 1st at World Athletics Final (20.93m/68-8)… 5th at USA Outdoors (20.57m/67-6)…1st at Salamanca (21.62m/70-11.25)… 2nd at NCAA Outdoors (21.56m/70-9)… 3rd at NCAA Indoors (20.64m/67-8.75)…best of 21.62m/70-11.25…ranked #8 in the world at SP (#4 U.S.) by T&FN.
2002: 2nd at USA Indoor Championships SP (20.86m/68-5.25PR)…3rd at NCAA Indoors (20.43m/67-0.5)…3rd at NCAA Outdoors (19.39m/63-7.50)…1st at Univ. of Iowa (21.45m/70-4.5)…1st at Kansas Relays (21.37m/70-1.50)…1st at Drake Relays (21.06m/69-1.25)…ranked #4 in U.S. at SP by T&FN…best of (21.45m/70-4.5)
2001:  5th at NCAA Outdoors SP (19.27m/63-2.75)…no mark at USA Outdoors…1st at Big 12 Indoors SP (19.37m/63-6.75)…14th at NCAA Outdoors HT…3rd at Big 12 HT (57.18m/187-7)…bests of 19.71m/64-8 & 59.30m/194-7.
2000:  7th at NCAA Indoor Championships (18.72m/61-5)…no mark in qualifying at U.S. Olympic Trials…Big 12 Outdoor SP champ (19.67m/64-6.5)…best of 19.67m/64-6.5.

 

12/23/09