 Randy Barnes (front) at the UTEP Sierra Medical invitational meet in 1994 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Randolph Barnes[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | (1966-06-16)June 16, 1966 (age 58)[1] Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.[1] |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m)[1] |
| Weight | 291 lb (132 kg)[1] |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | Shot put |
| Coached by | Robert Parker |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbest | 23.12 m (1990) |
Eric Randolph Barnes (born June 16, 1966) is an American formershot putter who held the outdoorworld record for the event from 1990 to 2021. He won silver at the1988 Olympics and gold at the1996 Olympics.[2] Only three throwers have been within 40 centimetres (16 in) of his outdoor world record since it was set.[3]
Barnes was born inCharleston, West Virginia,[1] grew up in nearbySt. Albans, and began putting the shot in high school. In 1985, he put an impressive 20.36 metres (66.8 ft) with the prep shot of 5.4 kilograms (12 lb). After graduating fromSt. Albans High School in 1985, he attendedTexas A&M University where he broke school records (set byRandy Matson) with a put of 21.88 metres (71.8 ft) with the 7.26 kilograms (16.0 lb) full size shot. While at A&M, Randy worked with hall of famer conditioning coachIstvan Javorek and throws coachRobert Parker.
He went to the 1988Seoul Olympics where he put 22.39 metres (73.5 ft) and earned a silver medal at only 22. He came second toUlf Timmermann ofEast Germany, who put 22.47 metres (73.7 ft) at the height ofEast German doping dominance.[1] On January 20, 1989, he set a new indoor world record at theSunkist Invitational inLos Angeles with a put of 22.66 metres (74.3 ft), which was better than his outdoor personal best at the time.[4]
On May 20, 1990, he brokeUlf Timmermann's outdoor record with a put of 23.12 m (75 ft 10 in).[4] Six days later Timmermann almost matched his world record, throwing 23.10 m (75 ft9+1⁄4 in) at the Bruce Jenner Invitational inSan Jose. Barnes was banned from competing for 27 months after testing positive for theanabolic steroidmethyltestosterone at a competition inMalmö, Sweden, on August 7 that same year. He sued to have the suspension overturned but lost. Due to the suspension, he was unable to compete in the1992 Olympics.[5]
At the1996 Olympic Games, Barnes won the gold medal that eluded him 8 years earlier with a come-from-behind 21.62 metres (70.9 ft) put on his final attempt.[1] In 1998, he tested positive forandrostenedione, an over-the-counter supplement (famously used by baseball playerMark McGwire) that is banned in track and field. Although Barnes claimed he did not know androsten was banned, he was suspended from competition for life.[6]
Barnes later became along driving competitor, competing to hit a golf ball as far as possible; he qualified for the 2005 World Long Drive Championship.[7]
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's shot put world record holder May 20, 1990 – June 18, 2021 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
