Randy Barnes facts for kids
Randy Barnes (front) at the UTEP Sierra Medical invitational meet in 1994
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Eric Randolph Barnes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 16, 1966 Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 feet 5 inches (1.95 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 291 lb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Shot put | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Robert Parker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 23.12 m (1990) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Eric Randolph Barnes (born June 16, 1966) is an American former shot putter. He was famous for holding the outdoor world record in shot put for many years. This record lasted from 1990 until 2021.
Randy Barnes won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics. He later earned a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. He is known as one of the best shot putters in history.
Early Life and Career
Randy Barnes was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up in a nearby town called St. Albans. Randy started practicing the shot put when he was in high school.
In 1985, he threw the high school shot (which weighs about 5.4 kilograms) an impressive 20.36 metres (66.8 ft). After finishing high school in 1985, he went to Texas A&M University. There, he broke school records for the full-size shot (which weighs about 7.26 kilograms). He threw it 21.88 metres (71.8 ft).
Olympic Achievements
Randy Barnes competed in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. He was only 22 years old at the time. He threw the shot put 22.39 metres (73.5 ft) and won a silver medal. He finished second to Ulf Timmermann from East Germany.
On January 20, 1989, Randy set a new indoor world record. This happened at the Sunkist Invitational in Los Angeles. He threw the shot put 22.66 metres (74.3 ft) indoors. This throw was even better than his best outdoor throw at that time.
On May 20, 1990, Randy Barnes broke the outdoor world record. He threw the shot put an amazing 23.12 m (75 ft 10.11122048 in). This record stood for over 30 years.
At the 1996 Olympic Games, Randy Barnes finally won the gold medal. He made a fantastic comeback on his very last throw. He threw the shot put 21.62 metres (70.9 ft) to secure the gold. This was the medal he had been aiming for since 1988.
Challenges and Later Career
Randy Barnes faced some challenges during his career. In 1990, he was suspended from competing for 27 months. This was because he tested positive for a substance not allowed in sports. He tried to get the suspension removed but was unsuccessful. Because of this, he could not compete in the 1992 Olympics.
Later, in 1998, he was suspended from competition permanently. This was also due to rules about substances that are not allowed for athletes.
After his shot put career, Randy Barnes became a long driving competitor. This sport involves hitting a golf ball as far as possible. He even qualified for the 2005 World Long Drive Championship.
See also
In Spanish: Eric Randolph Barnes para niños
