John Godina facts for kids
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| Born | May 31, 1972 (age 53) Fort Sill, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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John Carl Godina, born on May 31, 1972, is a famous American athlete. He is best known for his amazing skills in shot put, where he has won three World Championships and two Olympic medals. He also competes in discus throwing. John Godina was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
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Early Life and High School Sports
John Godina grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He went to Cheyenne Central High School. There, he was a top athlete in both football and track and field. He was recognized as an All-State and All-American player in both sports.
During high school, John showed great talent in throwing events. His best throws were about 63 feet in shot put. For discus, he threw about 210 feet and 4 inches. These were very impressive distances for a high school athlete.
College Athletics and Olympic Dreams
After high school, John Godina went to UCLA for college. He continued to excel in track and field. He won three outdoor NCAA championships. Two of these wins were in discus, and one was in shot put.
In 1995, John set a national record in college. He threw the shot put an incredible 22.00 meters (about 72 feet and 2 inches). This same year, he won his first World Championship title in shot put. He went on to win two more World Championship titles in 1997 and 2001.
Olympic Achievements
John Godina also had great success at the Olympic Games. He earned a silver medal in shot put at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the same event.
He was also a talented discus thrower. John was the first American athlete since Bud Houser in 1924 to qualify for the Olympics in both shot put and discus. He competed in the shot put at the 2004 Olympics, finishing 8th. John Godina retired from competitive throwing in 2009. This was after he faced injuries at the 2008 Olympic Trials.
John Godina is considered one of the most successful shot putters in U.S. athletics history. His achievements are often compared to those of Parry O'Brien. Parry O'Brien won two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal in shot put.
Awards and Recognition
John Godina has received several honors for his athletic career. In 2005, he was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. He was also named to the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame in 2010.
World Throws Center
After his competitive career, John Godina started a throwing academy. It is called the World Throws Center. This academy helps athletes improve their throwing skills. It has five different locations. Two are in California, in Sacramento and San Ramon. The other three are in Arizona, in Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale.
John Godina trains many top international athletes at his center. Some of these athletes include Vikas Gowda, Suzy Powell, and Dan Taylor.
Major Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the  United States |
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| 1990 | World Junior Championships | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | 20th (q) | Discus | 40.88 m |
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 2nd | Shot put | 20.79 m |
| 1997 | IAAF Grand Prix Final | Fukuoka, Japan | 3rd | Discus | 65.56 m |
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 3rd | Shot put | 21.20 m |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 1st | Shot put | 21.87 m |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 8th | Shot put | 20.19 m |
See also
In Spanish: John Godina para niños
