Posted: June 11, 2004

Athletics: World’s top shot put quartet to star in 2004 Titan Games

Built by The Home Depot

INDIANAPOLIS – The world’s top four shot putters, and the best our neighbors to the north have to offer, will compete Friday, June 18 at the 2004 Titan Games, Built by The Home Depot, in Atlanta.

Americans Christian Cantwell (Stillwater, Okla.), John Godina (Mesa, Ariz.), Adam Nelson (Athens, Ga.) and Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.) will compete against six-time Canadian champion Brad Snyder in a special shot put competition at 4:30 p.m. in Centennial Olympic Park as part of the 2004 Titan Games.

A property of the U.S. Olympic Committee in partnership with the affiliated National Governing Bodies and hosted by the Atlanta Sports Council, The Titan Games, Built by Home Depot, is a multi-sport competition featuring the Olympic sports of boxing, fencing, judo, shot put, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling. The edgy, fast-paced mini-sports festival debuted in 2003 and will be the final competition for more than 200 U.S. and international athletes on their Road to Athens. The Titan Games -- It’s not all the Olympic Sports, Just the Most Painful Ones!

Cantwell has been the world’s most dominant shot putter in 2004, currently enjoying a 12-meet winning streak. The 2004 U.S. and world indoor champion and 2003 IAAF World Athletics Final winner has the best two throws in the world this year, with a personal best of 22.54 meters/73 feet, 11.5 inches at the adidas Oregon Track Classic June 5 topping the list.

The most decorated shot putter in U.S. history, three-time world champion John Godina this year has shown excellent form. His winning throw of 21.71m/71-2.75 at the Payton Jordan U.S. Open May 31 – his 32nd birthday – was his best throw since 2002 and makes him currently the #2 thrower in the world behind Cantwell. With a personal best of 22.00m/72-3 and Olympic bronze (2000) and silver (1996) medals under his belt, Godina is a threat to win any competition he enters, and he is the defending Titan Games champion.

Equally threatening is 2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson, currently #3 in the world with his toss of 21.68m/71-1.5 to finish second to Cantwell at the adidas Oregon Track Classic. Nelson’s personal best of 22.51m/73-10.25 is mere fractions from Cantwell, and the 2000 Olympic Trials champion is showing a return to the big-throwing ways that have made him twice a world championships silver medalist and two-time U.S. outdoor champion.

Reese Hoffa is the breakthrough thrower of the year. Previously best known for competing as the masked, “Unknown Shot Putter” at the 2003 Home Depot Invitational, Hoffa is very well known in 2004. He won the world indoor silver medal behind Cantwell and is #4 in the world outdoors, behind his three compatriots, with a best mark of 21.67m/71-1.25 – a personal best. The 2003 Pan Am Games gold medalist could unseat any of his better-known counterparts for a spot on the Olympic Team, and could run away with the Titan Games crown.

A six-time Canadian champion (1996, ’98-’99, 2001-‘03), Brad Snyder is his nation’s record holder with his lifetime best of 20.79m/68-2.5. The 28-year-old graduate of South Carolina is the 1995 Pan Am Junior champion. His 2004 season best is20.43m/67-0.5.

Godina won the inaugural Titan Games competition in 2003, in San Jose, Calif., with a throw of 20.51m/67-3.5. Nelson was second with 20.36m/66-9.5.

For more information on the Titan Games, visit www.usolympicteam.com/titangames.