Randy Barnes
Encyclopedia
Eric Randolph Barnes (born June 16, 1966) is a former American
shot put
ter who holds both the current outdoor and indoor World Records for the event. He won silver at the 1988 Olympics
and gold at the 1996 Olympics
.
Barnes was born in Charleston, West Virginia
, grew up in nearby St. Albans
, and began putting the shot in high school. In 1985, he threw an impressive 66 ' 9.5" (20.36 m) with the prep shot of 12 lb (5.44 kg). After graduating from St. Albans High School
in 1985, he attended Texas A&M University
where he broke school records (set by Randy Matson
) with a put of 21.88 m (71 ft 9.5 in) with the 7.26 kg (16 lb) full size shot.
He went to the 1988 Seoul Olympics where he threw 22.39 m (73 ft 5.5 in) and earned a silver medal at only 22. He came second to Ulf Timmermann
of East Germany, who threw 22.47 m. On January 20, 1989, he set a new indoor world record at the Sunkist Invitational in Los Angeles
with a put of 22.66 m (74 ft 4.25 in), which was better than his outdoor personal best at the time.
On May 20, 1990, he broke Ulf Timmermann
's outdoor record with a put of 23.12 m. Barnes was banned from competing for 27 months after testing positive for the anabolic steroid
methyltestosterone
at a competition in Malmö
, 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 the 1992 Olympics
.
At the 1996 Olympic games
, Barnes won the gold medal that eluded him 8 years earlier with a come from behind 21.62 m throw on his final attempt. In 1998, he tested positive for androstenedione
, an over-the-counter supplement (famously used by Mark McGwire
) that is banned in track and field. Although Barnes claimed he didn't know androsten was banned, he was suspended from competition in the Olympic Games for life.
, both of Barnes's records still stand. He recently became a long driving competitor, competing to hit a golf ball as far as possible; he qualified for the 2005 World Long Drive Championship.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
ter who holds both the current outdoor and indoor World Records for the event. He won silver at the 1988 Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
and gold at the 1996 Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
.
Barnes was born in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, grew up in nearby St. Albans
St. Albans, West Virginia
St. Albans is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Kanawha and Coal Rivers. The population was 11,044 at the 2010 census.St. Albans was laid out in 1816...
, and began putting the shot in high school. In 1985, he threw an impressive 66 ' 9.5" (20.36 m) with the prep shot of 12 lb (5.44 kg). After graduating from St. Albans High School
St. Albans High School
St. Albans High School is a public high school in Kanawha County, West Virginia. Founded in 1909, it is located in the city of St. Albans. It is one of the eight public high schools in Kanawha County Schools. S.A.H.S. opened a newly renovated facility for the 2003 school year. In the Fall of 2009 St...
in 1985, he attended Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
where he broke school records (set by Randy Matson
Randy Matson
James Randel Matson is a former United States Olympic shot put thrower. In 1968 he stood , and weighed about .-Early years:...
) with a put of 21.88 m (71 ft 9.5 in) with the 7.26 kg (16 lb) full size shot.
He went to the 1988 Seoul Olympics where he threw 22.39 m (73 ft 5.5 in) and earned a silver medal at only 22. He came second to Ulf Timmermann
Ulf Timmermann
Ulf Timmermann is a German shot putter who broke many world records during the 1980s and is the first and one of only two people to ever throw over 23 metres ....
of East Germany, who threw 22.47 m. On January 20, 1989, he set a new indoor world record at the Sunkist Invitational in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
with a put of 22.66 m (74 ft 4.25 in), which was better than his outdoor personal best at the time.
On May 20, 1990, he broke Ulf Timmermann
Ulf Timmermann
Ulf Timmermann is a German shot putter who broke many world records during the 1980s and is the first and one of only two people to ever throw over 23 metres ....
's outdoor record with a put of 23.12 m. Barnes was banned from competing for 27 months after testing positive for the anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
methyltestosterone
Methyltestosterone
Methyltestosterone is a 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroid used to treat men with a testosterone deficiency. It is also used in women to treat breast cancer, breast pain, swelling due to pregnancy, and with the addition of estrogen it can treat symptoms of menopause...
at a competition in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
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 the 1992 Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
At the 1996 Olympic games
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, Barnes won the gold medal that eluded him 8 years earlier with a come from behind 21.62 m throw on his final attempt. In 1998, he tested positive for androstenedione
Androstenedione
Androstenedione is a 19-carbon steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands and the gonads as an intermediate step in the biochemical pathway that produces the androgen testosterone and the estrogens estrone and estradiol.-Synthesis:Androstenedione is the common precursor of male and female sex...
, an over-the-counter supplement (famously used by Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
) that is banned in track and field. Although Barnes claimed he didn't know androsten was banned, he was suspended from competition in the Olympic Games for life.
, both of Barnes's records still stand. He recently became a long driving competitor, competing to hit a golf ball as far as possible; he qualified for the 2005 World Long Drive Championship.