John Powell (discus thrower)

John Gates Powell (June 25, 1947 – August 19, 2022) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the discus throw. He set a world record at 69.08 meters in 1975, and his personal best of 71.26 meters ties him for ninth place in the all-time performers list.[2]

John Powell
Powell in 1972
Personal information
Born(1947-06-25)June 25, 1947
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 19, 2022(2022-08-19) (aged 75)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight110 kg (243 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Discus throw, shot put, hammer throw
ClubBud Light Track America
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
  • DT – 71.26 m (1984)
  • SP – 17.09 m (1976)
  • HT – 58.49 m (1984)[1]
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1976 Montreal Discus
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Los Angeles Discus
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1987 Rome Discus
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1975 Mexico City Discus

Life and career

Powell was born in San Francisco, California, on June 25, 1947.[1]

Powell graduated from San Jose State University and served with the San Jose Police Department for seven years. He left the police department to focus on his throwing career.

Powell was a four-time member of the American Olympic Team. Powell finished fourth at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, won a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal,[1] and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team which did not compete in the USSR due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the athletes.[3] He won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Some track and field competitions in 1987 appear to have been Powell's last ones on the international level. Powell ran several annual weight-throwing camps with his fellow Olympian weight throwers. Powell also coached a few of his young champion-level throwers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, nearly every week. Powell also coached the throwers at Stanford University from 1981 to 1990.

In 2019, he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.[4]

Powell died on August 19, 2022, at the age of 75.[5]

Achievements

Powell is a seven time US-champion in Discus throw in 1974, 1975, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "John Powell". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009.
  2. "Track and Field Statistics: John Powell". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  3. Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  4. "THE YEAR'S BEST ATHLETES, PERFORMANCES AND HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES HONORED AT USATF NIGHT OF LEGENDS". USA Track & Field. December 8, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  5. "John Powell". Olympedia. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
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