Adam Nelson

Adam Nelson

Nelson at the 2011 World Championships.
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1975-07-07) 7 July 1975 (age 41) Atlanta, Georgia
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Shot put
Coached by	Carrie Lane
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	22.51 m (outdoor) 22.40 m (indoor)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games 2004 Athens Shot put 2000 Sydney Shot put World Championships 2005 Helsinki Shot put 2001 Edmonton Shot put 2003 Paris Shot put 2007 Osaka Shot put IAAF World Athletics Final 2005 Monaco Shot put 2004 Monaco Shot put 2007 Stuttgart Shot put

Adam Nelson (born July 7, 1975) is an American shot putter and Olympic gold medalist. In 2013, almost a decade after the 2004 Summer Olympics concluded, Nelson was awarded the shot put gold medal after the original winner, Yuriy Bilonog, tested positive for doping after further testing.

Nelson competed in three consecutive Olympic Games in 2000, 2004 and 2008. In addition to his gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, Nelson also won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics.

Nelson attended The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia and was a letterman and a standout in both football and track and field. He graduated from Lovett in 1993. Nelson attended Dartmouth College and graduated in 1997. As an undergraduate at Dartmouth, Nelson won various accolades as a member of the track and field team, including the shot put title at the 1997 NCAA championships, when he won with a throw of 19.62m (64 ft. 4 1/2 in.). He still holds the Dartmouth shot put record with a throw of 65 feet 3 inches (19.88 m). In addition, Nelson played on the football team, as a linebacker and later, as a defensive tackle, becoming the first freshman to play football at Dartmouth in 1993. Prior to 1993, the Ivy League prohibited first-year students from playing on the varsity football team. He was a member of Dartmouth's 1996 undefeated Ivy League champion team, and served as President of Chi Heorot fraternity in 1997.

In 1996, Nelson worked at a concession stand during the 1996 Summer Olympics in his hometown of Atlanta.