 Powell in 1972 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1947-06-25)June 25, 1947 |
| Died | August 19, 2022(2022-08-19) (aged 75) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 110 kg (243 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | Discus throw,shot put,hammer throw |
| University team | San Jose State |
| Club | Bud Light Track America |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbests |
|
John Gates Powell (June 25, 1947 – August 19, 2022) was an Americantrack and field athlete who specialized in thediscus throw. He set a world record at 69.08 meters in 1975, and his personal best of 71.26 meters ties him for ninth place in the all-time performers list.[2]
Powell was born inSan Francisco, California, on June 25, 1947.[1]
Powell graduated fromSan Jose State University and served with theSan Jose Police Department for seven years.[3][4] He left the police department to focus on his throwing career.[1]
Powell was a four-time member of the American Olympic Team. Powell finished fourth at the1972 Summer Olympics inMunich, won a bronze medal at the1976 Summer Olympics inMontreal,[1] and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team which did not compete in theUSSR due to the1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He did however receive one of 461Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the athletes.[5] He won the bronze medal at the1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Powell won the BritishAAA Championships title three times in the discus throw event at the1974 AAA Championships,1976 AAA Championships,1979 AAA Championships and the1981 AAA Championships.[6][7][8]
Some track and field competitions in 1987 appear to have been Powell's last ones on the international level. Powell ran several annual weight-throwing camps with his fellow Olympian weight throwers. Powell also coached a few of his young champion-level throwers at theUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas, nearly every week.[citation needed] Powell also coached the throwers atStanford University from 1981 to 1990.
In 2019, he was inducted into theNational Track and Field Hall of Fame.[9]
Powell died on August 19, 2022, at the age of 75.[10]
Powell is a seven time US-champion in Discus throw in 1974, 1975, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's Discus World Record Holder May 3, 1975 – April 24, 1976 | Succeeded by |
|
