Brian Oldfield The Free Spirit Tribute

Brian Oldfield was a true free spirit in every way. He revolutionized the shot put quite literally becoming the first man over 73, 74, and 75ft in the 1975! His 'Oldfield Whirl' has become the standard nowadays for shot putters every where. While not everyone used his same style he started it all by proving it could set records.

I aimed to keep the clips in this video in chronological order. Brian started his international career in 1972 placing third in the US Olympic trials and 6th at the Olympics. After this Brian chose to join the ITA after being stiffed on under the table payments from meets sanctioned by the AAU and IAAF. During this time Brian would try his hand at several ventures including ABC's Super Stars, World's Strongest Man and Highland Games in Scotland! His most memorable accomplishment during this time was setting the unofficial world record at 75ft in May of 1975 in El Paso.

Brian would return to the world of 'Amateur Sports' in the late 70's and actually had to sue to be able to compete in the 1980 Olympics. Unfortunately even though he won a spot on the team the US would boycott those games in a hairbrained attempt to punish the Soviets for invading Afghanistan. Brian would continue to compete throughout the 80's setting the US national record twice. His most famous competition being the 1984 Bruce Jenner Classic where, in the first competition with 4 men over 70ft, Brian would get just one inch away from the world record and set a new American record at 39 years old! Shortly afterward describing it as having a throwgasm. Brian was banned from competing at the 1984 Olympic Trials as revenge from the petty and pathetic TAC. This meant that Brian (who could have won in 1984 having set the American record 4 weeks prior to the Olympic trials) was forced to sit it out.

Brian Later referred to the 1984 Bruce Jenner Classic as His Olympics. Having faced the most mighty shot putters in the world at that time minus Allesandro Andrie and the East Germans. I would say that is a fair assessment to the level of competition.

Brian would still continue to compete into his 40's setting the 40+ age group record at 21.41m! In 1988 Brian at age 43 would compete in his last Olympic Trials throwing 18.82m placing 9th. In 1989 he starred in a movie: They Call Me Macho Woman! Brian would later retire from competition and focus on coaching living in his home in Elgin, IL. For years he joined John Powell at this legendary camps to teach many young throwers the art of throwing.

Brian passed away March 26th, 2017 in his home. Rest in Peace the best damn shotputter to ever live.

Bio:
Height: 6ft 5in
Weight: 275lbs
Shot put: 22.86m average 22.05m
Discus Throw: 62.26m

Brian Oldfield's Chicago Tribune Obituary:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/o...

Shot Putting with the Big O:
   • Shot Putting with the Big "O" - Brian...  

Brian's Old Website archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/200712121...

An Interview with Brian Oldfield on Spin Shot putting:
   • An Interview with Brian Oldfield on S...  
http://danjohn.net/pdfs/iv2.pdf

John Powell Discus camp notes with Brian Oldfield:
https://danjohn.wpengine.com/pdfs/all...

Brian Oldfield NTCA Interview - with Glenn Thompson:
https://vimeo.com/210346436

BADDEST Mof0s EVER- BRIAN OLDFIELD:
https://plagueofstrength.com/9500-2/

Oldfield Interview from 2007:
   • Oldfield Interview 2007  

Classic Sports Illustrated Brian Oldfield article:
https://vault.si.com/vault/1975/09/01...

Brian Oldfield SuperStars:
http://www.thesuperstars.org/athletes...


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