AN
Adam Nelson

Photo: Phil Roeder from Des Moines, IA, USA—CC BY 2.0

Adam Nelson

USAUSAMen
Birth dateJul 7, 1975
Height-
Weight-

Adam Nelson is a United States thrower, born on July 7, 1975. He competes primarily in the SP and DT.

His personal bests include 22.51 in the SP and 53.56 in the DT. He has earned 18 gold and 9 silver medals in major international competitions. He is currently active on the international athletics circuit, representing United States.

Key facts
Shot Put
22.51
#16 all-time
2016 season best
20.48
Apr 30, 2016 · Athens, GA (USA)
2016 season best
Medals
Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver · World Championships: 1 gold, 3 silver
Age
51 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Shot Put 22.51 (#16 all-time), 2016 season best 20.48 (Apr 30, 2016, Athens, GA (USA)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver · World Championships: 1 gold, 3 silver · 51 years old

PB

Personal bests

22.51
#16 all-time
53.56
🏅

Medals

🥇🥈🥉Total
Olympic Games11-2
World Championships13-4
Total24-6

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
2016
SP
20.48-Apr 30, 2016
↓
Athens, GA (USA)
2012
SP
21.54-Apr 14, 2012
↓
Athens, GA (USA)
2011
SP
22.09-Jun 26, 2011
↓
Eugene USA Championships
2010
SP
21.29-Aug 18, 2010
↓
Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline
2009
SP
21.11-Aug 15, 2009
↓
IAAF World Championships
2008
SP
22.40-Feb 15, 2008
↓
Fayetteville, AR (USA) (i)
2007
SP
21.61-Aug 25, 2007
↓
IAAF World Championships
2006
SP
22.04-Jun 23, 2006
↓
Indianapolis, IN (USA)
2005
SP
21.92-Sep 10, 2005
↓
Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final, Stade Louis II, Monaco
2004
SP
21.68-Jun 5, 2004
↓
Gresham, OR (USA)
2003
SP
21.29-Jul 20, 2003
↓
Kuortane (FIN)
2003
DT
50.97-May 3, 2003
↑
Athens, GA (USA)
2002
SP
22.51-May 18, 2002
↓
Portland, OR (USA)
2001
SP
21.53-Aug 19, 2001
↓
Rüdlingen (SUI)
2001
DT
53.08-May 5, 2001
↑
Athens, GA (USA)
2000
SP
22.12-Jul 15, 2000
↓
Sacramento, CA (USA)
1999
SP
20.64-Jul 10, 1999
↓
Palma de Mallorca (ESP)
1999
DT
53.56-Jun 12, 1999
↑
Palo Alto, CA (USA)
1998
SP
20.61-Aug 23, 1998
↓
Rüdlingen (SUI)
1998
DT
51.12-May 26, 1998
↑
Palo Alto, CA (USA)
1997
SP
19.62-Jun 7, 1997
↓
Bloomington, IN (USA)
1996
SP
18.75-Apr 26, 1996
↓
Philadelphia, PA (USA)
1994
SP
18.34-Jul 23, 1994
↓
Estadio Universitario, Lisboa (POR)

2016

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
SP
20.17-Jul 1Eugene U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
SP
20.22-Jul 1Eugene U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
SP
20.48-Apr 30Athens Georgia Invitational, Athens, GA

2012

11 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
SP
18.47-Jun 23Eugene USA Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR
SP
14.60-May 19Shanghai Samsung Diamond League
SP
20.34-May 16Daegu Colorful Meeting, Daegu
SP
19.89-Apr 28Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA - Invitational Events
SP
20.79-Apr 18Lawrence Kansas Relays, Lawrence, KS - Invitational Events
SP
21.54-Apr 14Athens Spec Towns Invitational, Athens, GA - Invitational Events
SP
20.58-Feb 26US Indoor Championships, Albuquerque, NM (i)
SP
21.15HT-Feb 4-
SP
21.27-Feb 4New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Boston, MA (i)
SP
20.68-Jan 28New York U.S. Open, MSG, New York, NY (i)
SP
20.49-Jan 20Nordhausen Kugelstoß-Meeting, Nordhausen (i)

2011

15 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
SP
20.29-Sep 2IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
SP
20.23-Sep 1IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
SP
20.23-Aug 27IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
SP
20.29-Aug 27IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu
SP
21.45-Aug 19Athens HPC Shot Series, Athens, GA
SP
20.15-Jul 10Birmingham AVIVA British Grand Prix, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham - Diamond Discipline
SP
DNS-Jun 30Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline
SP
22.09-Jun 26Eugene USA Championships
SP
20.92-May 28Hengelo Fanny Blankers-Koen Games, FBK Stadium, Hengelo
SP
20.70-May 26Roma Compeed Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Promotional Events
SP
21.24-May 7Kingston Jamaica International Invitational, National Stadium, Kingston
SP
21.39-Apr 30Des Moines Drake Relays, Des Moines, IA - Invitational Events
SP
20.86-Apr 20Lawrence Kansas Relays, Lawrence, KS - Invitational Events
SP
20.15-Feb 27US Indoor Championships, Albuquerque, NM (i)
SP
20.51-Feb 16Bydgoszcz Pedro's Cup, Bydgoszcz (i)

2010

17 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
SP
20.26-Aug 27Bruxelles Memorial van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - EU Cup
SP
21.16-Aug 24Villeneuve d'Ascq Meeting Lille Métropole, Villeneuve d'Ascq
SP
20.66-Aug 22Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
SP
21.29-Aug 18Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline
SP
21.03HT-Aug 18-
SP
20.39-Aug 14Crystal Palace AVIVA London Grand Prix, Crystal Palace, London - Diamond Discipline
SP
20.39-Aug 13Crystal Palace AVIVA London Grand Prix, Crystal Palace, London - Diamond Discipline
SP
21.01-Aug 8Tallinn ERGO World Games, Tallinn
SP
NM-Aug 5Stockholm DN Galan, Olympiastadion, Stockholm - Diamond Discipline
SP
21.16-Jul 3Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline
SP
20.84-Jun 27Des Moines USA Championships, Drake Stadium, Des Moines, IA
SP
19.88-Jun 10Roma Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Promotional Events
SP
20.21-Jun 8Janusz Kusociński Memorial, Warszawa
SP
19.91-Jun 4Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - Promotional Events
SP
20.91-Feb 10Bydgoszcz Pedro's Cup, Bydgoszcz (i)
SP
20.51-Jan 29New York Millrose Games, MSG, New York, NY (i)
SP
20.23-Jan 22Nordhausen Kugelstoß-Meeting, Nordhausen (i)

2009

4 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
SP
20.03-Sep 12Thessaloniki IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final, Thessaloniki
SP
21.11-Aug 15IAAF World Championships
SP
20.50-Aug 15IAAF World Championships
SP
20.73-Jul 30Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
Showing 1 - 50 of 239

Honours

7

IAAF World Championships

Shot Put

2011
🥇

Eugene USA Championships

Shot Put

2011
6

Thessaloniki IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final

Shot Put

2009
5

IAAF World Championships

Shot Put

2009
🥈

Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final

Shot Put

2007
🥈

IAAF World Championships

Shot Put

2007
🥇

US Championships

Shot Put

2006
🥇

IAAF World Championships

Shot Put

2005
🥇

Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final

Shot Put

2005
🥇

The XXVIII Olympic Games

Shot Put

2004
🥈

Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final

Shot Put

2004
🥇

USA Championships

Shot Put

2004
🥈

IAAF World Championships

Shot Put

2003
5

Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final

Shot Put

2003
🥇

Madrid IAAF World Cup

Shot Put

2002
🥇

USA Championships

Shot Put

2002
🥇

Paris IAAF Grand Prix Final

Shot Put

2002
🥇

USA Indoor Championships

Shot Put

2002
🥈

IAAF World Indoor Championships

Shot Put

2001
🥈

IAAF World Championships

Shot Put

2001
🥇

USA Indoor Championships

Shot Put

2001
🥇

Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme

Shot Put

2000
🥇

USA Championships

Shot Put

2000
🥈

Doha IAAF Grand Prix Final

Shot Put

2000
🥇

Berlin ISTAF

Shot Put

2000
🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

Shot Put

2000
🥇

Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games

Shot Put

2000
🥈

The XXVII Olympic Games

Shot Put

2000
🥈

Palma de Mallorca Universiade

Shot Put

1999
🥇

Bloomington NCAA Championships

Shot Put

1997
🥇

Lisboa IAAF World Junior Championships

Shot Put

1994
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Adam Nelson's Shot Put personal best?

Adam Nelson's Shot Put personal best is 22.51, set on May 18, 2002 in Portland, OR (USA), #16 on the all-time list.

Which events does Adam Nelson compete in?

Adam Nelson competes in the Shot Put.

How did Adam Nelson perform in 2016?

2016 season best: 20.48, set on Apr 30, 2016 in Athens, GA (USA).

How many medals has Adam Nelson won?

Adam Nelson has won 2 Olympic Games medals and 4 World Championships medals.