Mac Wilkins

Mac Wilkins' career spanned 23 years, four Olympic teams and four world records in the discus. He set three of those records on a single day in 1976, during which he raised his prior world record from 226' 11" to 232' 6". A 1973 graduate of the University of Oregon, Wilkins also had lifetime bests of 69' 1 1/4" in the shot put, 208' 10" in the hammer throw and 257' 4" in the javelin. He was nationally ranked in three events but it was in the discus where he achieved his greatest glory. In 1976, Wilkins not only shattered the world record in the event but won the gold medal at the Olympics after setting an Olympic record of 224' 0" in the preliminaries. He was also on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that didn't compete, placed second at the 1984 Games and was fifth at the 1988 Games. In addition, Wilkins was the 1979 Pan-American Games champion, was second in the 1977 and 1979 World Cups and was 10th at the 1983 World Championships. He was top-ranked in the world in 1976 and 1980 and was the top-ranked U.S. discus thrower eight times, including six in a row from 1976 through 1981.

Records Held

World Record: Discus Throw - 70.86 m (May 1, 1976 - )

Championships

1976 Olympics: Discus Throw (1st)
1984 Olympics: Discus Throw (2nd)
1988 Olympics: Discus Throw (5th)
1977 World Cup: Discus Throw (2nd)
1979 World Cup: Discus Throw (2nd)
1983 World Outdoors: Discus Throw (10th)
1979 Pan-Am Games: Discus Throw (1st)

Occupations

Schoolteacher