Randy Barnes

Randy Barnes

Barnes at the UTEP Sierra Medical invitational meet in 1994
Personal information
Full name Eric Randolph Barnes
Born (1966-06-16) June 16, 1966
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 1⁄2 in (194 cm)
Weight 291 lb (132 kg)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1996 Atlanta Shot put
1988 Seoul Shot put
World Championships
1993 Stuttgart Shot put
1995 Gothenburg Shot put

Eric Randolph "Randy" Barnes (born June 16, 1966) is an American former shot putter who holds both the current outdoor and indoor world records for the event. He won silver at the 1988 Olympics and gold at the 1996 Olympics. As of 2016, both of Barnes's records still stand.[1] Only one thrower has been within 60 centimetres (24 in) of the outdoor record in the last 10 years. Barnes was banned for 27 months in 1990 for anabolic steroid usage, before he received a lifetime ban in 1998 after testing positive for androstenedione.

Biography

Barnes was born in Charleston, West Virginia,[2] grew up in nearby St. Albans, and began throwing shot put in high school. In 1985, he threw an impressive 20.36 metres (66.8 ft) with the prep shot of 5.4 kilograms (12 lb). After graduating from St. Albans High School in 1985, he attended Texas A&M University where he broke school records (set by Randy Matson) with a throw of 21.88 metres (71.8 ft) with the 7.26 kilograms (16.0 lb) full size shot. While at A&M, Randy worked with hall of famer conditioning coach Istvan Javorek.

He went to the 1988 Seoul Olympics where he threw 22.39 metres (73.5 ft) and earned a silver medal at only 22. He came second to Ulf Timmermann of East Germany, who threw 22.47 metres (73.7 ft).[2] On January 20, 1989, he set a new indoor world record at the Sunkist Invitational in Los Angeles with a throw of 22.66 metres (74.3 ft), which was better than his outdoor personal best at the time.[3]

On May 20, 1990, he broke Ulf Timmermann's outdoor record with a put of 23.12 metres (75.9 ft).[3] Barnes was banned from competing for 27 months after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methyltestosterone at a competition in Malmö, Sweden on August 7 that same year. He sued to have the suspension overturned, but lost. Due to the suspension, he was unable to compete in the 1992 Olympics.[4]

At the 1996 Olympic games, Barnes won the gold medal that eluded him 8 years earlier with a come-from-behind 21.62 metres (70.9 ft) throw on his final attempt.[2] In 1998, he tested positive for androstenedione, an over-the-counter supplement (famously used by baseball player Mark McGwire) that is banned in track and field. Although Barnes claimed he didn't know androsten was banned, he was suspended from competition for life.[5]

Barnes later became a long driving competitor, competing to hit a golf ball as far as possible; he qualified for the 2005 World Long Drive Championship.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ IAAF World Records. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-01-18.
  2. 1 2 3 "Randy Barnes". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
  3. 1 2 Randy Barnes. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-01-18.
  4. ↑ Hersh, Phil (1991-04-24). Track Panel Turns Down Barnes` Steroid Appeal. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2015-01-18.
  5. ↑ US athletics stars suspended. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2015-01-18.
  6. ↑ Warters, Bob (2004-08-24). Golden Olympian's now a long driver. Golf Magic. Retrieved on 2015-01-18.
Records
Preceded by
Ulf Timmermann		 Men's shot put world record holder
May 20, 1990–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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