Cottrell James Hunter III (December 14, 1968 – November 28, 2021) was an American shot putter, coach, and the 1999 World Champion.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Cottrell James Hunter III | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | December 14, 1968|||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | November 28, 2021 | (aged 52)|||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Hunter is well known for his involvement in the BALCO scandal and as the former spouse of sprinter Marion Jones.
Biography
editCollege career
editThe 6'1", 330 lb Hunter was a three-time All-American at Penn State University, where he still holds the outdoor and indoor shot put record (65'5" and 64'4½", or 19.93 m and 19.62 m respectively). He earned his B.A. in political science in 1991. Hunter first began throwing the shot after failing to make the basketball team at Hyde Park, New York's Franklin D. Roosevelt Senior High School.
Olympics and failed drug test
editHunter competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing seventh.[1] Hunter's personal best throw was 71' 9", (21.87 m) thrown during a 2nd-place finish in the 2000 US Olympic Trials.
Hunter tested positive for the performance-enhancing steroid Nandrolone at the Bislett Games, which was revealed before he was scheduled to compete in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Hunter was dropped from the team as a result.[2][3]
Personal life
editHunter first met Marion Jones when she was 16. They reconnected in 1995 when he was hired as a coach with the University of North Carolina track team. He was forced to resign from his position after refusing to conform with school rules that prohibited coach-athlete dating. They married on October 3, 1998, and divorced in 2002 following the BALCO scandal.
Hunter resided in Holly Springs, North Carolina with his son Nico from his third marriage.
Hunter died on November 28, 2021, at the age of 52.[4][5][6][7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "C. J. Hunter". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
- ^ Phil Hersh, Chicago Tribune article
- ^ Sydney Gazette
- ^ "Athletics: Shot putter CJ Hunter, Marion Jones' ex-husband, has died". Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Le lanceur de poids américain CJ Hunter est mort". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Shot putter C.J. Hunter dies at 52". December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Cottrell "CJ" Hunter, III Obituary".
External links
edit- C. J. Hunter biography at USA Track & Field
- C. J. Hunter photo, biography & stats at sporting-heroes.net
- "It's been going on for a long, long time", Black Athlete Sports Network, August 28, 2004