Shane Hamman
Shane Hamman (born
June 20,
1972 in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - weightlifter.
Hamman is sometimes called the strongest man in
America and was the first American to lift over 900
pounds (408
kilograms) in the two combined
weightlifting events. Since
1997, with the exception of 2002, he has won a gold medal at every American Senior National Championship. From
2004 he holds every American weightlifting record in his class.
A
wrestler and
football player in high school, Hamman grew strong lifting large pallets of produce for his father's fruit market. After two years, he quit football to concentrate on weightlifting and by the age of 18 had broken several teenage records. He trained as a
powerlifter after high school, but after seeing the
1996 Summer Olympics, he decided to switch his career to
Olympic-style weightlifting.
He competed in the
2000 Summer Olympics and finished 10th. In the qualifying for the Olympics, during the 2003 World Championships, on his final lift he single-handedly secured three spots for athletes from the U.S. in the
2004 Summer Olympics. In the Olympics, he finished 7th in his weight category, setting a new American record with his total of 430 kg and his
clean and jerk of 237.5 kg.
Aside from his weightlifting prowess, Hamman also plays
basketball and
golf. Despite his 350 pound (160 kg) frame, he can hit a golf ball 350 yards (320 m), do a standing back flip, and leap vertically three feet (0.9 m).
Hamman currently lives in
Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has retired from Olympic weightlifting but will be at the next Olympics as an announcer for
NBC.
Hamman is now focusing on helping others. He gives speeches at various high schools about taking the
Rachel Joy Scott challenge. Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed in
Columbine and has left a huge legacy, inspiring people such as
George W. Bush,
Charlie Daniels and even
Chuck Norris.
*
Shane Hamman's U.S. Olympic Team bio*
Shane Hamman - Hall of Fame at Weightlifting Exchange
