Kibwé Johnson

Kibwé Johnson (born July 17, 1981) is an American Olympic track and field athlete who specializes in the hammer throw. He has represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics three times (2007, 2011, and 2015). Competed in the 2012 London Olympics where he made the final and finished 9th. No American had made the final since 1996. Johnson competed in 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Kibwé Johnson
Personal information
Born (1981-07-17) July 17, 1981
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight107 kg (236 lb)
Sport
Country United States
SportAthletics
Event(s)Hammer throw
Medal record
Pan American Games
2011 GuadalajaraHammer throw
2015 TorontoHammer throw
2007 Rio de JaneiroHammer throw
Updated on 22 July 2015.

He is a three-time medalist at the Pan American Games, having taken silver in 2007 and improved to the gold in 2011 (where he broke the Games record), and then repeated in 2015 in Toronto. He set his personal best of 80.31 meters (263 ft 5.8 in) in 2011. He was the 2011 USA Outdoor Champion in the hammer throw and the 2008 USA Indoor Champion in the weight throw where he recorded the second best mark in US history.

Career

Born in San Francisco, he initially started as a discus thrower, before starting to focus more on the hammer while studying at the University of Georgia. Johnson performed poorly academically and later moved to Moorpark Junior College in Moorpark, California before finishing at Ashland University where he later graduated and represented them in NCAA Division II competitions.[1] He competed at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials in both the discus and hammer, placing eighth and 19th respectively.[2] He placed third in the weight throw at the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and threw a best of 24.54 meters (80 ft 6.25 in) at the Oiler Open meet – a distance which ranked him as the third best American and eleventh best ever in the history of the event.[3] A personal record hammer throw of 78.25 m in May saw him rank third nationally that year. He was the runner-up in the weight throw at the 2006 USA Indoors, then finished in fourth place in the hammer throw at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships later that year.[2]

Johnson had his breakthrough season in 2007. He won the discus event at the Mt. SAC Relays then came runner-up in the hammer at the 2007 USA Outdoors.[2] Making his international debut at the 2007 Pan American Games, he had a throw of 73.23 m on his final attempt, which brought him the silver medal behind Canada's James Steacy.[4] Johnson was selected to represent the United States at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, but failed to record a valid throw in the qualifying round. In spite of this he remained positive about the experience and fellow throwers Tore Gustafsson and Koji Murofushi offered him encouragement and technical advice.[1] In 2008 he won the USA Indoors weight throw title – his first win at national level – but he fouled out at the 2008 Olympic Trials later in the season.[2] This frustrating result was the catalyst for his move to train with Dr. Bondarchuk.

After missing much of 2009, he returned to form in 2010 as he finished as runner-up in the hammer at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (throwing 76.31 m). A personal best throw of 80.31 m at the 2011 USA Outdoors saw Johnson take his first ever national outdoor title. As national champion, he gained his second opportunity to compete on the global stage at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, but his best throw of 75.06 m in qualifying was not enough to reach the final.[2] He was also chosen to represent his country at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. At the competition he improved from his silver in 2007 to take the gold medal with a Pan American Games record mark of 79.63 m, improving Lance Deal's record from 1999.[5]

In the last ten years, Kibwé has won 5 US Championships with 3 runner-up finishes. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing 9th in the men's hammer final.[6] One of the most versatile throwers of all time, he has the unofficial world record for combination of Hammer throw (80.31m/263'5"), Discus (65.11m/213'7"), Indoor weight throw (25.12m/82'5")

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
2016 USA Olympic Trials Track and Field Eugene, Oregon 2nd Hammer throw 75.11 m (246 ft 5 in)[7]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Portland, Oregon 15th Weight throw 0.00 m (0 in) NM[8]
2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 1st Hammer throw 76.95 m (252 ft 5 1⁄2 in)[9]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA 5th Weight throw 22.54 m (73 ft 11 1⁄4 in)[10]
2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Hornet Stadium (Sacramento) 1st Hammer throw 74.16 m (243 ft 3 1⁄2 in)[11]
2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Drake Stadium Des Moines, Iowa 5th Hammer throw 71.17 m (233 ft 5 3⁄4 in)[12]
2012 USA Olympic Trials Track and Field Eugene, Oregon 1st Hammer throw 74.97 m (245 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[13]
2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 1st Hammer throw 80.31 m (263 ft 5 3⁄4 in)[14]
2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Drake Stadium Des Moines, Iowa 2nd Hammer throw 76.31 m (250 ft 4 1⁄4 in)[15]
DécaNation Annecy, France 1st Hammer throw 75,12 m
2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 32nd Hammer throw 0.00 m (0 in)NM[16]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA 9th Weight throw 18.92 m (62 ft 3⁄4 in)[17]
2008 USA Olympic Trials Track and Field Eugene, Oregon 12th Hammer throw 0.00 m (0 in)NM[18]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA 1st Weight throw 25.12 m (82 ft 4 3⁄4 in)[19]
2007 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 2nd Hammer throw 75.12 m (246 ft 5 1⁄4 in)[20]
2006 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships IUPUI, Carroll Stadium 4th Hammer throw 71.87 m (235 ft 9 1⁄2 in)[21]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA 2nd Weight throw 23.72 m (77 ft 9 3⁄4 in)[22]
2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships California State University, Dominguez Hills 13th Hammer throw 54.40 m (178 ft 5 1⁄2 in)[23]
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA 3rd Weight throw 22.27 m (73 ft 3⁄4 in)[24]
2004 USA Olympic Trials Track and Field California State University, Sacramento Alex G. Spanos Sports and Recreation Complex 8th Hammer throw 58.57 m (192 ft 1 3⁄4 in)[25]
2003 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Stanford University Cobb Track & Angel Field 16th Hammer throw 62.35 m (204 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[26]

Personal life

He is coached by former Soviet Olympic champion and coach, Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk. He is married to Crystal Smith Johnson, a former Canadian champion and record holder who also trained with Bondarchuk.[27] They have two daughters, born on 18 April 2012, and September 6, 2015. Johnson resides in Bradenton, Florida, where he is a throws coach at IMG Academy.

References
  1. Thompson, Glenn (April 2008, Volume 10, Issue 4). Kibwe Johnson Making His Own Way Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Long and Strong. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  2. Kibwe Johnson Archived 2011-10-13 at the Wayback Machine. USATF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  3. Johnson named Athlete of the Week Archived 2014-10-20 at the Wayback Machine. USATF (2005-06-12). Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  4. Biscayart, Eduardo (2007-07-26). Ennis-London beats Felicien in a thriller – Pan American Games, Day 4 Archived 2012-10-22 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  5. Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2011-10-27). Brenes improves to 44.65, Maggi sails 6.94m in Guadalajara - Pan American Games, Day 4 Archived 2011-10-28 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  6. "London 2012 hammer throw men - Olympic Athletics". olympic.org. 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. "USA Track & Field Olympic Trials - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2016-07-11. Archived from the original on 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  8. "2016 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2016-03-12. Archived from the original on 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  9. "2016 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2016-03-12. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  10. "2015 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2015-02-28. Archived from the original on 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  11. "2014 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2014-06-28. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  12. "2013 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2013-06-28. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  13. "USA Track & Field Olympic Trials - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2012-06-21. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  14. "2011 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2011-06-23. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  15. "2010 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2010-06-23. Archived from the original on 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  16. "2009 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2016-03-12. Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  17. "2009 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2009-02-28. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  18. "2008 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials Track and Field - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2008-07-05. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  19. "2008 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2008-02-24. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  20. "2007 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2007-07-05. Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  21. "2006 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2006-07-05. Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  22. "2006 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2006-02-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  23. "2005 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2005-06-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  24. "2005 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2005-02-24. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  25. "2004 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials Track and Field - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2004-07-12. Archived from the original on 2016-07-18. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  26. "2003 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full". Usatf.org. 2003-06-24. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  27. Kibwe Johnson Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Kamloops Track and Field. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
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