It surprises me that no one else has posted a commentary on this. I was a distance runner - and coach thereof - but I am awed and fascinated by excellence in any field. As an oldtimer, I well remember Carter's feat - and his later Olympic silver and long, excellent NFL career. But Gault has provided lots of details about his high school career that I never knew or had forgotten. Almost entirely self-taught/coached. An extremely focused and hard-working athlete. And almost certainly clean. (I urge the skeptics to read Gault's piece before commenting.) Plus he seems like a genuinely good person/husband/father.
Jonathon Gault on Michael Carter a must read. Definitely the greatest high school record.
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Can ye provide a link, laddie?
Editor's note: Here is the link:
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/06/greatest-of-all-throws-michael-carters-unbreakable-high-school-shot-put-record-turns-40/ -
Just finished reading it. Top shelf writing.
Carter was amazing, and also an amazing NFL player. 3 Rings. Father of Michelle Carter and so many accomplishments.
That family gave my family a ton of sports enjoyment.
Thank You, Family Carter! -
I thought it was an excellent read, too. Very cool that he still maintains its his greatest accomplishment. Also cool that his family has excelled as well. It’s remarkable he’s done it with the glide technique as while I know some still do it with success, it’s hard to believe it has the ceiling of the spin.
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I can vouch for Michael's sprinting speed. I witnessed him beat the late Bill McChesney in an impromptu standing start 50m dash on July 3, 1978, before a US vs USSR junior dual meet in Donyetsk.
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Raysharp001 wrote:
I can vouch for Michael's sprinting speed. I witnessed him beat the late Bill McChesney in an impromptu standing start 50m dash on July 3, 1978, before a US vs USSR junior dual meet in Donyetsk.
Great anecdote. It reminds me of the first pro Track circuit in the early'70s. Indoor meets. And one of the features was a 40 yard dash matching huge shot putters against whippet-fast women sprinters. My recollection is that they were always close races. World class throwers have to have lots of fast twitch fibers. -
Even if you don't care about field events, this is a must read. Well done, Jonathan!
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The first Olympic womens 100m was won by a 16 year old HSer, I put that as THE HS.....WOW! Carter's amazing throw second.
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Gault's longer pieces are indeed great readings.
I would not say this about all what he writes, but props to him for the very good work. -
Hey, its not his FAULT.
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I think Crouser was on his way to matching/beating the record his senior year with his 77' throw indoors but got injured. Amazing record, but I don't think untouchable.
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A number of years ago USA Today did a story and concluded that Carter's record was the greatest record of all sports all levels (hs, college, pro)..
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Whatley wrote:
The first Olympic womens 100m was won by a 16 year old HSer, I put that as THE HS.....WOW! Carter's amazing throw second.
Betty Robinson's 12.2 World Record in the 1928 Olympics obviously was an extraordinary accomplishment, but it is hard to compare what she did, in the relative infancy of women's track and field, with what Michael Carter accomplished in the modern era.
In any case, I was really just thinking of Carter's record compared to other great feats by high school boys track and field athletes. -
Pleased that the article includes the video of Michael's series at Golden West. Pretty much the definition of "active right leg."
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Carter remains proud of his record throw, and he’s happy to talk about it, should you ask. But he’s never been one to brag. “If you knew who I was, you already know what I did.”
Boom. -
A great high school record.
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Mikeh33 wrote:
Can ye provide a link, laddie?
[i] Editor's note: Here is the link:
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/06/greatest-of-all-throws-michael-carters-unbreakable-high-school-shot-put-record-turns-40/
Outstanding record, outstanding athlete, and outstanding article. -
Yes, I agree -- I don't much care about field events, but I'm in awe at how good this mark was/remains.
I always admire the pro shot putters, because with their speed and strength, you have to figure all of them could be making seven figures in the NFL. Think what Carter could have done if he'd continued his SP career instead of going to football. -
Gault should be commended. When a writer keeps you hanging onto every word, about a topic you care little about, he's done a great job.
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I remember that Track and Field News would write a new story each time Carter broke the high school shot record -- Carter amazing, Carter astounding, Carter rules, etc. They finally ran out of superlatives and when he made his iconic throw the headline read "81' 3 1/2": Carter not human."
