Adam Nelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Adam Nelson

Nelson at the 2011 World Championships
Personal information
Born	(1975-07-07) July 7, 1975 (age 50) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in
Weight	255 lb
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 Gold 2004 Athens Shot put Silver 2000 Sydney Shot put World Championships Gold 2005 Helsinki Shot put Silver 2001 Edmonton Shot put Silver 2003 Paris Shot put Silver 2007 Osaka Shot put IAAF World Athletics Final Gold 2005 Monaco Shot put Silver 2004 Monaco Shot put Silver 2007 Stuttgart Shot put

Adam McCright Nelson (born July 7, 1975) is an American shot putter. He is famous for winning a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Adam competed in the Olympics three times: in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Adam is married to Laci Nelson. They have two daughters named Caroline and Lauren.

About Adam Nelson's Early Life

Adam Nelson was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to The Lovett School in Atlanta. There, he was a great athlete in both football and track and field. After graduating from Lovett in 1993, he went to Dartmouth College. He finished college in 1997.

Adam's College Sports Career

At Dartmouth, Adam was a star on the track and field team. He won the college shot put title in 1997. His throw was about 19.62 meters (64 feet, 4 inches). He still holds the Dartmouth shot put record with a throw of 65 feet, 3 inches (19.89 meters).

Adam also played football at Dartmouth. He played as a linebacker and later as a defensive tackle. In 1993, he was the first freshman to play on the Dartmouth varsity football team. Before that, first-year students were not allowed to play. He was part of Dartmouth's undefeated team in 1996.

Before he became an Olympian, Adam worked at a food stand. This was during the 1996 Summer Olympics in his hometown of Atlanta.

Adam Nelson's Olympic Journey

Adam Nelson won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Many people thought he would win the gold medal. He had won many big shot put events before the Olympics that year. At the 2000 Games, his throw was 21.21 meters (69 feet, 7 inches). This was just a little shorter than the winning throw.

Adam's best personal throw in shot put is 22.51 meters (73 feet, 10 inches). He achieved this in 2002. At that time, it was one of the longest throws ever in the United States and the world.

The 2004 Athens Olympics

The shot put event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece was special. It was held at the ancient Stadium of Olympia. This was the first time Olympic events returned there in over a thousand years.

In Athens, Adam started strong with a throw of 21.16 meters (69 feet, 5 inches). He was in the lead for most of the competition. However, he made mistakes on his next few throws. In shot put, if you step outside the throwing circle, it's called a "foul," and that throw doesn't count.

In the final round, another athlete, Yuriy Bilonog, tied Adam's best throw. Adam had one last chance to win. He made a huge throw, but he accidentally stepped on the line. This was another foul. Because they were tied, the rules said they had to look at their second-best throws. Since Adam had fouled on his other throws, he didn't have a second valid mark. So, Yuriy Bilonog was given the gold medal, and Adam received his second Olympic silver medal.

Adam Nelson's Gold Medal Upgrade

Years later, in 2012, officials re-tested old samples from the 2004 Olympics. They found that Yuriy Bilonog, who won the gold medal, had used performance-enhancing drugs. This is a type of cheating in sports.

Because of this, Yuriy Bilonog was disqualified. In 2013, Adam Nelson's silver medal from the 2004 Olympics was officially changed to a gold medal! Adam received his gold medal from an Olympic official at an airport food court in Atlanta.

In 2017, Adam Nelson spoke to a U.S. government committee. He talked about how important it is to stop cheating in sports.

Adam's Throwing Style

Adam Nelson throws the shot put using a technique called the "spin." He spins his body to create a lot of speed and power before he throws. The throwing circle is 7 feet (2.135 meters) wide.

The "spin" technique can help throw the shot put very far. But it also makes it easier to make a mistake, like stepping outside the circle. If a thrower steps on or over the line, it's a foul, and the throw doesn't count. For example, at the 2004 Olympics, Adam fouled on five of his six throws, but he still won the gold medal with his one good throw.

Life After Competing

After he stopped competing professionally, Adam Nelson started training other athletes. He has helped athletes in football, golf, baseball, and track and field. He also worked for NBC Sports as an expert on field events.

Adam strongly believes in fair play in sports. He often speaks out against athletes using performance-enhancing drugs.

In 2017, Adam moved to Houston with his family. He works for an organization called The D10. This group uses sports events to raise money for good causes. They have raised over $12 million for research and treatment for childhood cancer.

In 2020, Adam returned to his old high school, The Lovett School. He became the athletic director there. In 2025, he joined the United States Olympic Committee (USOPC). Also in 2025, he accepted a job at Hoffman & Hoffman in Georgia.

Major Competition Results

Nelson after winning second place at the 2007 World Championships

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing the  United States
1994	World Junior Championships	Lisbon, Portugal	1st	18.34 m
1999	Universiade	Palma de Mallorca, Spain	2nd	20.64 m
2000	Olympic Games	Sydney, Australia	2nd	21.21 m
2001	World Indoor Championships	Lisbon, Portugal	2nd	20.72 m
	World Championships	Edmonton, Canada	2nd	21.24 m
	Goodwill Games	Brisbane, Australia	1st	20.91 m
2003	World Championships	Paris, France	2nd	21.26 m
2004	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	1st	21.16 m
2005	World Championships	Helsinki, Finland	1st	21.73 m
2007	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	2nd	21.61 m
2008	Olympic Games	Beijing, China	N/A	NM
2009	World Championships	Berlin, Germany	5th	21.11 m
2011	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	7th	20.29 m

See also

In Spanish: Adam Nelson para niños