Duncan Fuller Atwood (born October 11, 1955, inSeattle, Washington) is a former Americanathlete who twice won agold medal in thejavelin throw at thePan American Games: in 1979 and 1987. Atwood set his personal best (78.92 meters) on August 29, 1987, inRome, Italy, during the qualification round at theWorld Championships.
Atwood was anAll-American thrower for theWashington Huskies track and field team, finishing 3rd in the javelin at the1978 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[1]
Atwood qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but did not compete due to the U.S. Olympic Committee'sboycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. He was one of 461 athletes to receive aCongressional Gold Medal instead.[2] He competed for America at the1984 Summer Olympics inLos Angeles, California, finishing in 11th place.
Atwood was one of the 12 American track and field athletes who abruptly left Caracas after it became known that there would be stricter and improved drug testing at the1983 Pan American Games.[3]
In August 1985 Atwood tested positive for a prohibited stimulant at a competition in Koblenz, Germany. He was subsequently banned for life byIAAF for the anti-doping rule violation.[4] At the time IAAF banned athletes for life for the first doping offence, but the athlete could apply to have the ban reduced, something IAAF would routinely grant. Atwood got his ban reduced and was able to compete again in 1987.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the United States | ||||
| 1979 | Pan American Games | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1st | 84.16 m |
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 11th | 78.10 m |
| 1987 | Pan American Games | Indianapolis,United States | 1st | 78.68 m |
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | 12th | 72.54 m | |
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