Track and Field
News labeled him "Mr. Intensity". His personal best in the
shot put is 73'10.25", a mark that ranks him as the fifth best
US thrower of all time. Adam Nelson finished 2000 and 2002 as the
number one ranked shot putter in the world. Ivy League educated
and 6' tall, Adam doesn't fit the stereotypical mold of a shot putter,
but that hasn't seemed to stop him as he pursues his dream of being
best in the world once again in 2004. His career accomplishments include
2000 Olympic silver medalist, 2000 Olympic Trials champion, 2003 World
Outdoor silver medalist, 2001 World Outdoor and Indoor silver medalist,
2-time USA Outdoor champion (2000-'02), two-time USA Indoor champion
(2001-'02), 2001 Goodwill Games gold medalist, 1997 NCAA champ and
1994 World Junior gold medalist. He was kind enough to take some time
out of his training to answer a few questions for us. Good luck to
Adam as he pursues another Olympic berth and a chance to prove once
again that he's the best in the world.
GATFXC: You
went to Lovett HS in Atlanta. What were your marks in high school
and how did you do at the state meet and in any junior national meets?
Adam: As
a freshman, I threw 40 feet and some change. Not exactly an outstanding
performer, but I knew there was more there. As a sophomore, I narrowly
missed qualifying for the state meet with a throw of roughly 50 feet.
I placed third in regions to Joey Hedgemon and Larry Walker, the top
two guys in the state that year. Later in the summer, I threw 52'2
at the Junior Olympics. To be honest, I don't remember how that faired
in the competition. I was just excited about getting a pr. Junior
year, I threw 56 or 57 feet and ending up winning the shot put and
the discus at the state meet. Senior year, I threw 60'2, won the shot
put and the discus at the state meet, and won the National Scholastics
with a throw of 63'2. Later that year, I went on to compete in the
Jr. Nationals and Jr. Pan American competitions, placing second to
Jon Ogden(now a pro-ball, future hall of famer tackle in the NFL)
at Jr. Nationals and winning Jr. Pan Ams with the 16lb ball.
GATFXC: You
chose to attend Dartmouth College, not exactly the place you would
look for a future world number one shot putter. How did that come
about and what were some of your highlights from college?
Adam: Actually,
Dartmouth has a great reputation for producing excellent marks from
non-blue chip recruits. As far as what went into the decision of attending
Dartmouth, there were a combination of things. First, I knew I wanted
to compete in both football and track. Though I was being recruited
by several SEC and ACC schools for football, I was disenchanted with
those schools by their insistence that I focus only on football. When
I visited Dartmouth I knew it was the place for me. It was the best
combination of athletics and academics. As far as the highlights of
my athletic career, I'd say winning Jr. Worlds the summer after my
freshman year ranks pretty high. Topping that would be winning the
IC4A's indoor and outdoor competitions 7 times and winning the Division
1, NCAA Championships my senior year.
GATFXC: You
were the 2000 Olympics game silver medalist, ranked number one in
the world in 2000 and 2002 and yet you are 6'0" and 255, something
atypical of throwers today. To what do you attribute your success?
Adam: Some
people think shot putters have to be these huge, lumbering creatures,
but that's not the case at all. Shot putters tend to come in two sizes:
relatively small or huge. Some of the best throwers of all times were
my size, but lately the dominant throwers have grown larger and larger.
My own particular strengths are predicated on the fact that my size
doesn't inhibit my movement through the circle. Speed, explosion,
and mobility allow me to generate a lot of power and a much longer
push on the ball than most of my peers.
GATFXC:
What is your most satisfying accomplishment?
Adam: Personally,
that will take place on March 13th, 2004 when I get married. Athletically,
the 2003 World Championships. I spent most of last year battling minor
injuries. It seemed like I could never find a rhythm in the circle,
but I knew if I kept plugging along I could finish strong. Going into
the competition in Paris, my confidence was not very high. Training
hadn't been going well and I just couldn't pull it together. The competition
was tough and I barely made it out of the qualifying round. That evening
during the finals, I found myself in a precarious position. With one
throw left in the preliminaries, I needed some help. I looked to my
family in the stands, I looked deep within, and when it was my turn
I said you've got one chance to make this season right. Do it now.
As the shot landed, I knew it was my best throw of the year but wasn't
sure if it'd be enough. That mark moved me into second place and that's
where I stayed. It was very nerve racking.
GATFXC: How
many hours a week do you spend throwing vs. lifting and where do you
train?
Adam: I
train at the University of Ga. Typically, I throw for about 3-5 hours
per week. My non-throwing workouts take about 2-3 hours with warm-ups
and cool down. All in all, I train about 20-30 hours per week.
GATFXC:
What advice would you give somebody that has thoughts of pursuing
track and field beyond high school?
Adam: Nothing
about your pursuit will be easy. Whether it's a lack of funding, coping
with injuries, or dealing with personal problems, there will always
be something that interferes with your goals. Take them on one at
a time and never allow them to let you lose focus. This is a war of
attrition. Often times, the ones who succeed are the ones who had
the most resolve and passion. But most importantly, find a way to
make it fun and challenging every day.
GATFXC: You
and Andy Bloom have brought a lot of personality and fun back to the
throwing events and yet you do so in a way that it isn't aimed at
your other competitors. How do you feel about some of the trash talking
that goes on in the sport and what are your thoughts about the overall
health of track and field?
Adam: Trash
talk directed at your competitors serves no real purpose other than
media hype. Most guys who get caught up in trash talk are covering
their own insecurities with that bravado. Ultimately, some athletes
believe it will distract their competitors, but it just motivates
me. I prefer to draw attention to throws during the competition itself.
GATFXC: This
year is an Olympic year and last time, the United States dominated
in the throws heading into the Olympics...any predictions for this
year?
Adam: Keep
your eyes on the infield. This will be the year of the shot put.
A big thanks to
Adam for taking time to answer some questions for us in this Olympic
year. Keep an eye on the Olympic Trials and summer games to follow
the progress of one of Georgia's finest track and field athletes as
well as one of the truly nice guys in the sport. With Reese Hoffa,
also ranked sixth in the US last year, former Georgia HS athletes
are holding their own in the throwing events.
Jim Yike is the current cross country coach at Mill Creek HS
and webmaster for GATFXC.com.