There's something brutally honest about shot putting. There's no deception, no faking a good throw. It's a simple test of brute power: whoever can "put" the shot farthest is the strongest. Celtic chiefs 2,000 years ago used rock throwing competitions to determine their strongest warriors, and it's that raw simplicity I love. When I step into the ring, everything slows down—it's just 12 pounds of metal and me. The throw itself is a visceral experience, a rush of energy that often leaves me no choice but to grunt.
Of course, I'm no Celtic warrior and I wasn't blessed with the requisite massive frame and fast-twitch ability to be a high caliber thrower. However, that hasn't stopped me from continuing to battle the 12 pounds of metal. Shot putting has become a test of character for me—it's more about learning to improve, inch by inch, than being the strongest.
Changes in technique so subtle that they're only visible in slow motion can have big effects on the distance the shot travels. Even after three years I often fail to lead with my hips—a concept that sounds simple in theory but actually requires great coordination and thousands of repetitions. My generation is often criticized for being impatient and wanting it all at once, but shot putting offers no shortcuts. I …show more content…
During the summer after my freshman year, while leading the sports program at the St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club (SFAYC), I was outplayed in soccer by a boy half my age who couldn't play soccer outside of the youth club because his parents were too busy. His reality was as clear to me as that 12 pound ball—the children at the youth club couldn't get the same benefits from sports I received in my childhood. While I lift weights for joy, the weight of income inequality is placed on these children's backs at birth. I choose my Atlas role; the kids have no
Of course, I'm no Celtic warrior and I wasn't blessed with the requisite massive frame and fast-twitch ability to be a high caliber thrower. However, that hasn't stopped me from continuing to battle the 12 pounds of metal. Shot putting has become a test of character for me—it's more about learning to improve, inch by inch, than being the strongest.
Changes in technique so subtle that they're only visible in slow motion can have big effects on the distance the shot travels. Even after three years I often fail to lead with my hips—a concept that sounds simple in theory but actually requires great coordination and thousands of repetitions. My generation is often criticized for being impatient and wanting it all at once, but shot putting offers no shortcuts. I …show more content…
During the summer after my freshman year, while leading the sports program at the St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club (SFAYC), I was outplayed in soccer by a boy half my age who couldn't play soccer outside of the youth club because his parents were too busy. His reality was as clear to me as that 12 pound ball—the children at the youth club couldn't get the same benefits from sports I received in my childhood. While I lift weights for joy, the weight of income inequality is placed on these children's backs at birth. I choose my Atlas role; the kids have no