Brian Oldfield
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Brian Oldfield (born June 1, 1945[1]) is a former American athlete and personality of the 1970s and early 1980s.
A standout shot putter, Oldfield is credited with making the rotational technique popular. With his "Oldfield spin," he set the indoor and outdoor world records in the sport many times. However, due to his status as a professional athlete, his records were never officially recognized.
Oldfield began his career at Middle Tennessee State University where he won the Ohio Valley Conference championship three times. The University recognized his achievements by inducting him into their athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
After holding several jobs, Brian set his sights on achieving stardom in the shot put as an Olympian. In 1972 he made the US Olympic team, but finished in 6th place. He bounced back less than a year later by setting his first World record -- the indoor shot put record -- with a throw of 70' 10 1/2". However, this record was not official due to his affiliation with professional track & field.
In 1975, his throw of 75' set another unofficial world record. Though unofficial, Oldfield's accomplishment did not go unnoticed. After setting this mark, he had earned a cover spot on Sports Illustrated, and also made an appearance in a 1975 issue of Playgirl. In his Sports Illustrated interview, he confidently asserted that he expected to be throwing over 80' before 1980. In 1984, at age 38, he finally set an official record with a throw of 72' 9" to set a new American mark. When asked how he was able to do it by a commentator at the event he responded "I had a 'throw-gasm.'"[citation needed]
It is possible that Brian Oldfield is even more well-known for his unusual personality. He often wore his hair long in a style he called the "Oldfield Mop" and would occasionally sport a beard. His antics were also considered to be bizarre by his competitors. At the 1972 US Olympic Trials, an opponent was quoted as saying "I will retire the day that I lose to someone like Brian Oldfield." Oldfield would sometimes smoke cigarettes in between throws at competitions to show that he could beat anyone, even while smoking. Not surprising for the man who said "When God created man; he wanted him to look like me."[citation needed]
Oldfield competed in the World's Strongest Man contest in 1978, finishing seventh in a field of ten competitors.[2] He also competed in Scottish Highland Games in the 1970s. Utilizing his experience in the shot put, he set many field records in the Stone put. His career-best throw of 63'2" in the light stone, accomplished at Braemar, Scotland, in 1973, is still a world record. [3]
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| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Aleksandr Baryshnikov |
Men's Shot Put Best Year Performance 1975 – 1976 |
Succeeded by Udo Beyer |
| Preceded by Udo Beyer |
Men's Shot Put Best Year Performance 1981 |
Succeeded by Dave Laut |
| Preceded by Udo Beyer |
Men's Shot Put Best Year Performance 1984 |
Succeeded by Ulf Timmermann |
