Michelle Carter (athlete) facts for kids
Carter at the 2012 World Indoor Championships in Istanbul
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 12, 1985 San Jose, California, U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Athletics (track and field) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Shot put | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Texas Longhorns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Michael Carter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Michelle Denee Carter (born October 12, 1985) is an American athlete who used to compete in shot put. She is famous for winning a gold medal in shot put at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. This made her the first American woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal in shot put. She also holds the American record for the longest shot put throw, which she set at the 2016 Olympics. Michelle retired from competing in 2022.
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Who is Michelle Carter?
Michelle Carter is a highly successful American track and field athlete. She specialized in the shot put event. In shot put, athletes throw a heavy metal ball as far as they can. Michelle became a true champion in this sport.
Early Life and Family
Michelle Carter was born on October 12, 1985, in San Jose, California. She grew up in Red Oak, Texas. Sports run in her family! Her dad, Michael Carter, was also an amazing athlete. He won a silver medal in shot put at the 1984 Summer Olympics. After that, he played American football for the San Francisco 49ers. Michelle has a brother, Michael Jr., and a sister, D’Andra.
Michelle went to Red Oak High School. There, she was a state champion in shot put four times. She even held the national record for high school girls in shot put for many years. After high school, she earned a scholarship to the University of Texas. She continued to compete in shot put and graduated in 2007.
Becoming an Olympic Champion
Michelle Carter's biggest achievement was winning the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. She won on her very last throw, beating the two-time champion from New Zealand. This was a historic moment because she was the first American woman to ever win Olympic gold in shot put. She also set a new American record with her throw of 20.63 meters.
Michelle also competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. She placed 15th in 2008 and 4th in 2012, showing her consistent performance at the highest level.
Other Major Wins
Michelle won many other important medals throughout her career.
- She earned bronze medals at the World Championships in 2015 and 2017.
- At the World Indoor Championships, she won a gold medal in 2016 and a silver medal in 2012.
- As a junior athlete, she won a silver medal at the World Youth Championships in 2001.
- She also won gold medals at the Pan American Junior Championships in 2003 and the World Junior Championships in 2004.
Michelle was also a champion in the United States. She won the national championship multiple times, including in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. While in college, she won the NCAA collegiate national championship in 2006. She was recognized as an All-American seven times during her college career.
Michelle Carter announced her retirement from competitive shot put in June 2022.
Awards and Recognitions
Michelle Carter has received many honors for her amazing career.
- In 2016, she was inducted into the Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor.
- She joined the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2018.
- In 2020, she was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Michelle Carter is a Christian. She has spoken about how her faith and sports taught her discipline. She believes that God gave her a platform to inspire others.
When she was a child, Michelle was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. These are learning differences that can make some things harder, but Michelle showed that they don't stop you from achieving great things.
Outside of sports, Michelle is also a certified professional make-up artist. She also created a program called You Throw Girl. Through this program, she talks to young women about body image and confidence. She wants everyone to understand that every body is built for something special.
Michelle married Courtney Elder in 2019. They first met when they were children at church. Michelle lives in Grand Prairie, Texas.
See also
In Spanish: Michelle Carter para niños
