Ben Plucknett
Walter Harrison ("Ben") Plucknett (April 13, 1954 in Beatrice, Nebraska – November 17, 2002 in Essex, Missouri) was an American track and field athlete, known primarily for the discus throw. Plucknett qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created specifically for the athletes.[1] In 1981, he broke the existing world record with a throw of 233'7", and broke the record again with a throw of 72.34 m (237'4") on July 7, 1981. However, on July 13, 1981, the International Association of Athletics Federations banned Plucknett from further competition after he had tested positive for anabolic steroid use, and the records were removed.[2] Even though he was stripped of his World Record breaking throws the IAAF still recognizes his throw of 71.32m (233' 11.87") thrown on June 4, 1983, in Eugene, Oregon as the current North American record.[3] He died at the age of 48 due to a brain aneurysm on his farm.
In 1983, Plucknett bench-pressed 623 lbs.[4]
References
- ^ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
- ^ "U.S. discus star stripped of world record for steroids", Anchorage weekly News, July 14, 1981, pB-1
- ^ "100 Metres - women - senior - outdoor - 2021".
- ^ "The Pharmaceutical Athlete: An Olympian Dilemma". Scholastic Coach. 53: 75. November 1983. ISSN 1077-5625.
- Obituary
External links
- Ben Plucknett at World Athletics
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Amateur Athletic Union
- 1897–98: Charles Hennemann
- 1899–1900: Richard Sheldon
- 1901: Harry Gill (CAN) * Dick Sheridan
- 1902: Charles Hennemann
- 1903: Joseph Maddock
- 1904: Martin Sheridan
- 1905: Ralph Rose
- 1906–07: Martin Sheridan
- 1908: Marquis Horr
- 1909: Ralph Rose
- 1910: Merritt Giffin
- 1911: Martin Sheridan
- 1912–14: Emil Muller
- 1915–17: Arlie Mucks
- 1918: Emil Muller
- 1919: Arlie Mucks
- 1920–22: Gus Pope
- 1923–24: Thomas Lieb
- 1925–26: Bud Houser
- 1927: Eric Krenz
- 1928: Bud Houser
- 1929: Eric Krenz
- 1930–31: Paul Jessup
- 1932–33: John Anderson
- 1934: Robert Jones
- 1935–36: Ken Carpenter
- 1937: Phil Levy
- 1938: Pete Zagar
- 1939–40: Phil Fox
- 1941: Archie Harris
- 1942: Bob Fitch
- 1943–44: Hugh Cannon
- 1945: John Donaldson
- 1946: Bob Fitch
- 1947–50: Fortune Gordien
- 1951: Dick Doyle
- 1952: James Dillion
- 1953–54: Fortune Gordien
- 1955: Parry O'Brien
- 1956: Ron Drummond
- 1957: Al Oerter
- 1958: Rink Babka
- 1959–60: Al Oerter
- 1961: Jay Silvester
- 1962: Al Oerter
- 1963: Jay Silvester
- 1964: Al Oerter
- 1965: Ludvík Daněk (TCH) * Jay Silvester
- 1966: Al Oerter
- 1967: Gary Carlsen
- 1968: Jay Silvester
- 1969: Jon Cole
- 1970: Jay Silvester
- 1971: Tim Vollmer
- 1972: Jay Silvester
- 1973: Mac Wilkins
- 1974–75: John Powell
- 1976–79: Mac Wilkins
The Athletics Congress
- 1980: Mac Wilkins
- 1981: Ben Plucknett
- 1982: Luis Delís (CUB) * Mac Wilkins
- 1983–87: John Powell
- 1988: Mac Wilkins
- 1989–90: Kamy Keshmiri
- 1991: Anthony Washington
- 1992: Kamy Keshmiri
USA Track & Field
- 1993: Anthony Washington
- 1994: Mike Gravelle
- 1995: Mike Buncic
- 1996: Anthony Washington
- 1997–98: John Godina
- 1999: Anthony Washington
- 2000–02: Adam Setliff
- 2003: Carl Brown
- 2004: Jarred Rome
- 2005–06: Ian Waltz
- 2007: Michael Robertson
- 2008: Ian Waltz
- 2009–10: Casey Malone
- 2011: Jarred Rome
- 2012–13: Lance Brooks
- 2014: Hayden Reed
- 2015: Jared Schuurmans
- 2016-7: Mason Finley
- 2018: Reggie Jagers
- 2019: Sam Mattis
- 20212020 OT: Mason Finley
- The 1920, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 championships incorporated the Olympic Trials,
otherwise held as a discrete event.
- 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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