Michelle Denee Carter (born October 12, 1985) is a retired American track and field athlete who competed in shot put. She won a gold medal in the event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the first American woman to win Olympic gold in shot put and only the second to win a medal of any color. [3] Carter is the former American record holder in the event with a distance of 20.63 m (67 ft 8 in) set at the 2016 Olympic Games. She was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Carter was born on October 12, 1985, in San Jose, California, and grew up in Red Oak, Texas. [4] Her parents are Sandra and Michael Carter, the latter of whom won a silver medal in shot put at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and went on to play American football for the San Francisco 49ers. [4] [1] She has one brother, Michael Jr., and one sister, D’Andra. [4]
Carter is a 2003 graduate of Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas, where she was a four-time state champion in shot put and held the girls’ national record in the event from 2003 to 2014. [4] She earned an athletic scholarship to University of Texas, where she competed in shot put, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in youth and community studies, with a minor in kinesiology, in 2007. [4] [5] [6]
Carter won the 2016 gold medal at the Rio Olympics on the last of her six throws, edging two-time defending champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand. [7] In doing so, Carter became the first United States women's athlete to win the event since the women's competition began at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, and only the second American to win any medal in the event (Earlene Brown, bronze, 1960). [8] Carter broke her own American record with an Olympic gold medal-winning toss of 20.63 m (67 ft 8 in).
She finished fifteenth at the 2008 Olympic Games and fourth at the 2012 Olympic Games. [9]
A bronze medalist at the 2015 and 2017 IAAF World Championships, Carter also won the gold medal at the 2016 World Indoor Championships after winning the bronze in 2012.
She won the silver medal at the 2001 World Youth Championships and the gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships.
In addition to winning the 2008 United States Olympic Team Trials, she was the 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 national champion. [10] While competing for the University of Texas, she won the NCAA collegiate national championship in 2006. In college, she was a seven-time All-American, and also won the Big 12 Conference title five times. In 2006, she won the NCAA indoor title to also help the University of Texas women claim the NCAA team title. With a runner-up finish in the shot put at the 2005 outdoor meet, Carter helped the Longhorns win the NCAA championship.
In June 2022, Carter announced her retirement from competition. [11]
Carter was inducted into the Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor in 2016, [12] the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2018, [13] and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. [14]
Carter is a Christian. She has said, "Through faith and sports, I've learned discipline and self-control. In the Bible, God tells us we have to work, even if what we want is not going to happen right away. People want a platform, but with that comes responsibility. Before winning the gold medal, I needed to be in a mature place to handle the opportunities that were going to come my way, to make sure I didn't use them for my advantage. You have to put your pride aside and let God's plan come through. He has given me this platform for Him to shine." She has also said "I know God allowed me to have this medal, and with it I want to glorify Him and point others to Him." [15]
As a child, Carter was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. [6]
Carter is a certified professional make-up artist.
Carter has focused on body image both on and off the field, talking to young women about confidence through her program You Throw Girl. "You have to understand everyone's body was built to do something. I was built to do something, and that's how I was built. I think the world is realizing we were promoting one body type and there have always been many." [16]
Carter married husband Courtney Elder in 2019. [17] They first met as children at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church, when Carter was 5 years old, and reconnected as adults in 2016.
Carter lives in Grand Prarie, Texas. [18] [19]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | World Youth Championships | Debrecen, Hungary | 2nd | Shot put | 15.23 m (49 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | SB |
| 2003 | Pan American Junior Championships | Bridgetown, Barbados | 1st | Shot put | 16.23 m (53 ft 2+3⁄4 in) | — |
| 2004 | World Junior Championships | Grosseto, Italy | 1st | Shot put | 17.55 m (57 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | SB |
| 2006 | NACAC U23 Championships | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | 2nd | Shot put | 16.74 m (54 ft 11 in) | — |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 13th | Shot put | 17.74 m (58 ft 2+1⁄4 in) | — |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 5th | Shot put | 18.96 m (62 ft 2+1⁄4 in) | — |
| 2010 | World Indoor Championships | Doha, Qatar | 10th | Shot put | 18.20 m (59 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | — |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 8th | Shot put | 18.76 m (61 ft 6+1⁄2 in) | — |
| Pan American Games | Guadalajara, Mexico | 3rd | Shot put | 18.09 m (59 ft 4 in) | — | |
| 2012 | World Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 2nd | Shot put | 19.58 m (64 ft 2+3⁄4 in) | — |
| Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 4th | Shot put | 19.42 m (63 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | — | |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 4th | Shot put | 19.94 m (65 ft 5 in) | — |
| 2014 | World Indoor Championships | Sopot, Poland | 4th | Shot put | 19.10 m (62 ft 7+3⁄4 in) | — |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 3rd | Shot put | 19.76 m (64 ft 9+3⁄4 in) | — |
| 2016 | World Indoor Championships | Portland, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 20.21 m (66 ft 3+1⁄2 in) | — |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1st | Shot put | 20.63 m (67 ft 8 in) | PB | |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 3rd | Shot put | 19.14 m (62 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | — |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 9th | Shot put | 18.41 m (60 ft 4+3⁄4 in) | — |
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | USA Junior Olympics | Amherst, Massachussetts | 1st | Shot put | 14.44 m (47 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | SB |
| 2001 | USA Junior Olympics | Sacramento, California | 1st | Shot put | 15.19 m (49 ft 10 in) | — |
| 2002 | USA Junior Championships | Palo Alto, California | 3rd | Shot put | 16.24 m (53 ft 3+1⁄4 in) | — |
| USA Junior Olympics | Miami, Florida | 1st | Shot put | 15.59 m (51 ft 1+3⁄4 in) | — | |
| 2003 | USA Junior Championships | Palo Alto, California | 1st | Shot put | 16.05 m (52 ft 7+3⁄4 in) | — |
| USA Junior Olympics | Miami, Florida | 1st | Shot put | 15.82 m (51 ft 10+3⁄4 in) | — | |
| 2004 | USA Junior Championships | College Station, Texas | 1st | Shot put | 16.33 m (53 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | — |
| 2005 | USA Championships | Carson, California | 2nd | Shot put | 18.26 m (59 ft 10+3⁄4 in) | SB |
| 2006 | USA Championships | Indianapolis, Indiana | 5th | Shot put | 17.45 m (57 ft 3 in) | — |
| 2007 | USA Championships | Indianapolis, Indiana | 5th | Shot put | 17.57 m (57 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | — |
| 2008 | United States Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 18.85 m (61 ft 10 in) | SB |
| 2009 | USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 18.03 m (59 ft 1+3⁄4 in) | — |
| 2010 | USA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2nd | Shot put | 18.03 m (59 ft 1+3⁄4 in) | — |
| USA Championships | Des Moines, Iowa | 2nd | Shot put | 18.46 m (60 ft 6+3⁄4 in) | — | |
| 2011 | USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 19.86 m (65 ft 1+3⁄4 in) | SB |
| 2012 | USA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2nd | Shot put | 19.27 m (63 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | — |
| USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | Shot put | 18.57 m (60 ft 11 in) | — | |
| 2013 | USA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1st | Shot put | 19.41 m (63 ft 8 in) | — |
| USA Championships | Des Moines, Iowa | 1st | Shot put | 20.24 m (66 ft 4+3⁄4 in) | SB | |
| 2014 | USA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1st | Shot put | 18.45 m (60 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | — |
| USA Championships | Sacramento, California | 1st | Shot put | 19.45 m (63 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | — | |
| 2015 | USA Indoor Championships | Boston, Massachussetts | 1st | Shot put | 19.45 m (63 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | — |
| USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 20.02 m (65 ft 8 in) | SB | |
| 2016 | USA Indoor Championships | Portland, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 19.49 m (63 ft 11+1⁄4 in) | — |
| United States Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | Shot put | 19.59 m (64 ft 3+1⁄4 in) | — | |
| 2017 | USA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1st | Shot put | 19.03 m (62 ft 5 in) | — |
| USA Championships | Sacramento, California | 3rd | Shot put | 19.34 m (63 ft 5+1⁄4 in) | — | |
| 2018 | USA Championships | Des Moines, Iowa | 6th | Shot put | 18.01 m (59 ft 1 in) | — |
| 2019 | USA Championships | Des Moines, Iowa | 2nd | Shot put | 18.69 m (61 ft 3+3⁄4 in) | — |
| 2020 | USA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 7th | Shot put | 17.63 m (57 ft 10 in) | — |
| 2022 | USA Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 8th | Shot put | 17.72 m (58 ft 1+1⁄2 in) | SB |
Dame Valerie Kasanita Adams is a retired New Zealand shot putter. She is a four-time World champion, four-time World Indoor champion, two-time Olympic, three-time Commonwealth Games champion and twice IAAF Continental Cup winner. She has a personal best throw of 21.24 metres (69.7 ft) outdoors and 20.98 metres (68.8 ft) indoors. These marks are Oceanian, Commonwealth and New Zealand national records. She also holds the Oceanian junior record (18.93 m) and the Oceanian youth record (17.54 m), as well as the World Championships record, World Indoor Championships record and Commonwealth Games record.
Earlene Brown was an American athlete notable for her careers in track and field and roller games. She competed at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics in the shot put and discus throw and won a bronze medal in the shot put in 1960; she finished fourth in the discus in 1956.
Michael D'Andrea Carter is an American former professional football player and track and field athlete. He played pro football as a nose tackle with the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Carter was a three-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro selection, including three times on the first-team. He helped the 49ers win three Super Bowls. He was also an Olympic athlete, winning a silver medal in the shot put in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Gary Jay Gubner was an American heavyweight weightlifter, shot putter and discus thrower. He had his best results in weightlifting, winning two world championship medals in 1962 and 1965 and placing fourth at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He also attempted to qualify for the 1964 Olympics in throwing events, and finished fifth in the shot put at the U.S. Olympic trials. Gubner set several shot put records, including a 53-foot throw with a 16-lb. ball when he was 16, and three world indoor records in 1962. His best result of 19.80 m placed him second in the 1962 world ranking.
Dylan Armstrong is a Canadian athletics coach and retired competitive shot putter. He is the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, a two-time World Athletics Championships medallist, a two-time Pan American Games champion, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games champion in that discipline. He was awarded his Olympic bronze medal in 2015, seven years after the event, following the doping disqualification of competitor Andrei Mikhnevich.
Gong Lijiao is a Chinese Olympic shot putter and the 2020 Olympic champion in that event. A five-time Olympic player and a three-time Olympic medalist, she holds a record eight medals at the World Athletics Championships, including two World titles.
Natasha Monique Hastings is an American 400 meter track and field sprinter.
Brianne Theisen-Eaton is a retired Canadian track and field athlete who competed in the heptathlon and women's pentathlon. She won the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Theisen-Eaton holds the Canadian record for the heptathlon with 6,808 points, as well as the indoor pentathlon with a score of 4768 points. Theisen-Eaton is a heptathlon silver medallist from the 2013 World Championships and 2015 World Championships, as well as a pentathlon silver medalist from the 2014 World Indoor Championships. She is the first and only Canadian woman to podium in the multi-events at the World Championships. Theisen-Eaton won Commonwealth Games gold in the heptathlon at Glasgow 2014 and was the 2016 World Indoor Champion in the pentathlon. She also won a bronze medal as part of the women's 4 x 400 m relay at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
Manpreet Kaur is an Indian professional Olympic shot putter. Born in Ambala, her gold-medal winning performance of 18.86m at the 2017 Asian Grand Prix in Jinhua, China turned out to be a world-leading throw, taking her to the No. 1 spot in the rankings. Kaur was qualified to represented India at Summer Olympics at Rio 2016 in shot put.
The Texas Longhorns women's track and field program represents the University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's track and field competition. The Longhorns competed in the Big 12 Conference through the 2024 season and moved to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on July 1, 2024.
Tomas Walsh is a New Zealand athlete who competes mainly in the shot put. He is the current national record holder both outdoors and indoors for the event. His personal best of 22.90 m, set in Doha, 5 October 2019, is also the Oceanian record and makes him the seventh best shot putter in history.
Lynn Graham is an American former track and field athlete who specialized in the shot put. Graham was the Pan American Games gold medalist in 1971. She won six national titles in the shot put and one in the discus. Her lifetime personal record is 16.18 m, set in Garden Grove, California on May 28, 1971.
Ryan Crouser is an American track and field athlete who competes in the shot put and discus. He specializes in the shot put, in which he is the only three-time Olympic gold medalist, having won in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Paris, and also a two-time World Champion. He holds the world record in the shot put, both indoors and outdoors. He set the outdoor world record at 23.56 meters in May 2023, improving upon his previous record of 23.37 m from July 2021. He has held the indoor record of 22.82 m since January 2021.
Raven "Hulk" Saunders is an American track and field athlete who competes in shot put. They were the silver medalist in women's shot put at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, throwing a distance of 19.79 m. They won four NCAA collegiate titles in shot put, both indoor and outdoor, at Southern Illinois University and University of Mississippi. They were a world junior silver medalist in 2014 and the Pan American junior champion in 2015. Saunders finished 11th in women's shot put at the 2024 Paris Olympics, throwing a distance of 17.79 m. They hold a personal record of 19.96 m for the shot put.
Felisha Nayomie Johnson is an American track and field athlete who specialises in the shot put. She was the 2015 national indoor champion in the weight throw. She won two NCAA collegiate titles in that event for the Indiana State Sycamores.
Suziann Reid is an American-Jamaican former track and field sprinter who specialized in the 400-meter dash. She set a personal record of 50.74 seconds for the distance in 1999. She was a silver medalist with the American women's 4 × 400-meter relay team at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics. She was part of the World Championship team twice more, in 2001 and 2005, and helped the United States to silver at the 2002 IAAF World Cup and gold at the 2001 Goodwill Games.
Chase Foster Jackson is an American track and field athlete who competes in shot put and discus throw. She won the gold medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in women's shot put, which made her the first American woman to win a shot put world title at the World Athletics Championships. She won on the first attempt which, according to Olympic historian Bill Mallon, made her the first woman's shot put world champion to win on the first attempt.
Sarah Dawn Mitton is a Canadian athlete specializing in the shot put. She is the 2023 World silver medallist and 2024 World Indoor champion, the first Canadian woman to medal in the shot put at either World Athletics global championship. As well, she is the 2023 Pan American, 2022 Commonwealth, and 2019 Summer Universiade champion.
Jordan Geist is an American shot putter. He won the silver medal in the men's shot put event at the 2019 Pan American Games held in Lima, Peru.
Jaida Ross is an American track and field athlete who competes in shot put and discus throw. She competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she placed 4th in women's shot put, and was the 2024 NCAA Division I champion in the event. Ross was the first collegiate woman to break 20 m in shot put.
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World Indoor Champions in women's shot put | |
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USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in women's shot put | |
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| 1927–1979 Amateur Athletic Union |
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| 1980–1992 The Athletics Congress |
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| 1993–present USA Track & Field |
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| Notes | * Shot put was 8 pounds (3.6 kg) from 1927 to 1954, after which it was 4 kilograms (8.8 lb). |
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