EUGENE, Ore. — Adam Nelson has a wife of seven years and two young daughters. An undergraduate degree from Dartmouth. An MBA from the University of Virginia. Two Olympic silver medals. A world title. Three world silver medals. And, as of Sunday, a fifth U.S. title — his first since 2006 — and a chance to throw the shot at the biennial world championships for the sixth time.
All of it since 2000, the most recent third of his life.
So what else could the guy want, especially a guy who keeps none of his medals on display and has few apparel mementoes of his Olympic and world meets because his wife’s idea of organization is to throw the old gear away?
“My last two goals in the sport are still the world record and an Olympic gold medal,” said Nelson, who turns 36 early next month. “The world championships are a steppingstone to one of them, the next Olympics.”
And the way Nelson threw Sunday once again gives him a shot at dreaming about the 21-year-old world record set by Randy Barnes of the U.S., banned for steroid use less than three months after his 75-foot, 101/4-inch throw.
Nelson’s winning throw Sunday, 72-53/4, second best in the world this season, is a long way from the record but his longest since 2008, when he began to struggle in global championships for the first time in his career. He had all fouls on his throws in the 2008 Olympic final, finished fifth in the 2009 worlds and had last season ruined by tearing a pectoral muscle while lifting weights.
“When you compete long enough, anomalies are going to happen,” Nelson said. “Hopefully, they will remain anomalies and not become a trend.”
Nelson (2005) and compatriots Reese Hoffa (2007) and Christian Cantwell (2009) have established a world title trend in the shot put. All three are going to August’s world meet in Daegu, South Korea.
“We’re having a lot of success because of the generation that came before,” Nelson said, then added with a laugh, “I guess I’m part of that generation too.”
Nelson nearly remained in the previous generation until he gave up thoughts of retiring after the 2004 Olympics. The injury last year, coupled with his lack of an apparel contract, made him and wife Laci wonder again if the time had come to move on.
He got a sponsor deal with Saucony at the end of last season and decided there was no reason to stop if he could stay healthy.
“The older I get, the more I have to enjoy it,” Nelson said.
The crowd of 10,033 at Hayward Field for the final day of the U.S. championships was treated to three world-leading winning performances that also were personal bests: Jesse Williams’ high jump of 7-91/4; Kelly Wells’ high hurdles time of 12.50 seconds; and reigning world champion Brittney Reese’s long jump of 23-71/4, which gave her a third straight U.S. title and is best in the world since 2007.
Walter Dix, winner of 2008 Olympic silver and bronze medals, did not have any startling times but completed the sprint double by winning Sunday’s 200 in a wind-aided 19.95 seconds.
“I’m not race sharp right now,” Dix said. “Don’t be surprised when you see those times drop.”
Dix and his coach, Rey Robinson — the former 100 world record-holder also known for missing the 100-meter heat at the 1972 Olympics because of a U.S. official’s mistake — have purposely limited his racing so far this season.
“The one thing I don’t have to worry about is he is meet-ready all the time,” Robinson said.
Sounds like Adam Nelson.
Twitter @olyphil
