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

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.

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.

 

6/23/09