Gwen Berry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gwen Berry

Berry in 2018
Personal information
Born	(1989-06-29) June 29, 1989 (age 36) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Height	5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m)
Weight	88 kg (194 lb)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Hammer throw
College team	Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Club	NYAC & NIKE
Turned pro	2011
Medal record Pan American Games Gold 2019 Lima Hammer Pan American Sports Festival Gold 2014 Mexico City Hammer

Gwendolyn Denise Berry (born June 29, 1989) is an American track and field athlete. She is best known for her amazing skills in the hammer throw. Gwen is one of the top hammer throwers of all time. She also holds a world record in the weight throw. She has won national championships three times in the weight throw. Gwen won a gold medal in the hammer throw at the 2014 Pan American Sports Festival. She also became the champion at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Gwen Berry's Athletic Journey

Starting Out in Sports

Gwen Berry grew up in Florissant, Missouri. She went to McCluer High School. In high school, she played basketball. She also started doing track and field in the off-season. She competed in the triple jump.

In 2007, Gwen began studying at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She joined the Southern Illinois Salukis college team. There, she started focusing on throwing events. In 2008, she placed fourth in the hammer throw at the USA Junior Championships.

College Success

Gwen's throwing skills got much better. She became the champion in the weight throw and shot put for the Missouri Valley Conference. She also earned All-American honors. This means she was recognized as one of the best college athletes.

In 2010, she won a bronze medal for the United States. This was at the 2010 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics. She threw the hammer 62.55 meters.

Her final year at Southern Illinois was very strong. She set a personal best in the shot put. She also threw the weight throw 22.71 meters. This was the second-best throw in the world that year. She won the hammer throw at the Drake Relays. Her throw of 70.52 meters put her in the world's top 25.

Becoming a Professional Athlete

After college, Gwen became a professional athlete in 2011. She focused on the weight throw indoors. For outdoor events, she focused on the hammer throw. In 2012, she set a new personal best in the hammer throw. She threw 71.95 meters. She competed in the 2012 United States Olympic Trials. She finished seventh.

Gwen won her first national title in 2013. She won the weight throw at the USA Indoors. She threw 24.70 meters. She won this title again in 2014.

In 2014, Gwen started competing internationally. She won a gold medal at the Pan American Sports Festival. She beat a famous Cuban athlete, Yipsi Moreno. This was a big win for Gwen.

Olympic Appearances

Gwen Berry competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She placed 14th in the hammer throw.

She also competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She made it to the final round. She finished 11th in the hammer throw.

Standing Up for Beliefs

Gwen Berry is known for using her platform to speak out. She supports social justice.

At the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, Gwen won a gold medal. During the award ceremony, she raised her fist. This was a protest against injustice in America. She wanted to show support for racial and social justice.

The International Olympic Committee gave her a warning. They said she could not protest for a year. Gwen said this cost her sponsorships.

In June 2021, at the U.S. Olympic trials, Gwen turned away from the U.S. flag. This happened during the national anthem. She said she felt it was planned to make her react. She believes it's important to stand up for what is right. She said critics care more about "patriotism over basic morality."

Personal Best Throws

Gwen Berry has set impressive personal records in her career.

Outdoor

• Shot put – 16.99 meters (2011)
• Hammer throw – 77.78 meters (2018)

Indoor

• Shot put – 16.30 meters (2010)
• Weight throw – 25.60 meters (2017) (This is a world record!)

Major Competitions and Medals

Gwen Berry has represented the United States in many important events.

¹No mark in the final

National Titles Won

Gwen Berry has won several national championships in the United States.

• USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
  • Weight throw: 2013, 2014, 2016
• USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
  • Hammer throw: 2017

See also

• Olympic Games
• United States at the Olympics
• Women's sports
• Performative activism