Andy Bloom (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Andy" Bloom is an American former Olympic shot putter, two-time national indoor shot put champion, World University Games
shot put champion, and NCAA champion in both discus
and shot put.
, Connecticut. He later lived in Schenectady, New York
, where he attended Niskayuna High School
, graduating in 1991. While there, he set a New York State high school discus throw record in 1991, with a distance of 198 feet, 10 inches.
He earned a masters degree in mathematics education from Wake Forest University
in 1998. He is married, and lives in Vacaville, California.
honors each year. As a senior, he won both the NCAA shot put (65–0.5; personal record) and discus (211–1) championships. He became the eighth male in NCAA history to win that double.
Bloom won a silver medal
in the discuss at the 1997 World University Games, and was ranked third in the US in the discus in 1997. In 1998, he won a silver medal in discus (209–10) at the 1998 Goodwill Games
, and was third in shot put (66–11.25 PR) at the USA Indoors and third in discus (217–11 PR) at the USA Outdoors.
In 1999, he won a gold medal
in the shot and a silver medal in discus at the 1999 World University Games
. He was also fourth in shot put at the World Outdoor Championships in 1999 (20.95 m). He won the shot put at the USA Indoor Championships in 1999 and 2000, with a personal record throw of 70–10.5 in the latter. He was ranked fifth in the world in both shot put and discus in 1999, and third in the US in shot put and second in discus.
Bloom made the US Olympic team in 2000, with a throw of 70–10.75. He placed fourth at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, with a throw of 68–5.75 (20.87 m). He finished 2000 ranked second in the world, and with a season-best mark of 71–7.25.
He was honored by the US Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Athletics at the 1999 Summer Universiade
The Athletics Tournament at the 1999 Summer Universiade took place in the new Estadio Son Moix in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from July 4 to July 9, 1999. Five Universiade records were set.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-References:* *...
shot put champion, and NCAA champion in both discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
and shot put.
Early and personal life
Bloom is Jewish, and was born in StamfordStamford
-Places:In the United Kingdom:*Stamford, Lincolnshire, a town in England*Stamford Hill, London*Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire**Battle of Stamford Bridge*Stamford Bridge , the home ground for Chelsea Football Club...
, Connecticut. He later lived in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, where he attended Niskayuna High School
Niskayuna High School
Niskayuna High School is a secondary school in Niskayuna, New York.- History :Niskayuna High School was founded in 1954.Niskayuna High School is to receive $53.2 million to undergo repairs and updates including 8 new classrooms and a new media center, it was completed in April 2011.- Academics :In...
, graduating in 1991. While there, he set a New York State high school discus throw record in 1991, with a distance of 198 feet, 10 inches.
He earned a masters degree in mathematics education from Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in 1998. He is married, and lives in Vacaville, California.
Shot put and discus career
Bloom attended Wake Forest University as an undergraduate, graduating in 1996. At Wake Forest, he earned All-Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
honors each year. As a senior, he won both the NCAA shot put (65–0.5; personal record) and discus (211–1) championships. He became the eighth male in NCAA history to win that double.
Bloom won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the discuss at the 1997 World University Games, and was ranked third in the US in the discus in 1997. In 1998, he won a silver medal in discus (209–10) at the 1998 Goodwill Games
1998 Goodwill Games
The 1998 Goodwill Games was the fourth edition of the international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s. The competition was held in New York, United States from July 19 to August 2, 1998.-Medal table:-References:*...
, and was third in shot put (66–11.25 PR) at the USA Indoors and third in discus (217–11 PR) at the USA Outdoors.
In 1999, he won a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the shot and a silver medal in discus at the 1999 World University Games
Athletics at the 1999 Summer Universiade
The Athletics Tournament at the 1999 Summer Universiade took place in the new Estadio Son Moix in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from July 4 to July 9, 1999. Five Universiade records were set.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-References:* *...
. He was also fourth in shot put at the World Outdoor Championships in 1999 (20.95 m). He won the shot put at the USA Indoor Championships in 1999 and 2000, with a personal record throw of 70–10.5 in the latter. He was ranked fifth in the world in both shot put and discus in 1999, and third in the US in shot put and second in discus.
Bloom made the US Olympic team in 2000, with a throw of 70–10.75. He placed fourth at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, with a throw of 68–5.75 (20.87 m). He finished 2000 ranked second in the world, and with a season-best mark of 71–7.25.
He was honored by the US Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.