Brian Oldfield
Encyclopedia
Brian Oldfield is a former American athlete and personality of the 1970s and early 1980s. A standout shot put
ter, Oldfield is credited with making the rotational technique popular. With his "Oldfield spin," he set the indoor and outdoor world records in the sport many times. However, due to his status as a professional athlete, his records were never officially recognized.
where he won the Ohio Valley Conference
championship three times. The University recognized his achievements by inducting him into their athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
After holding several jobs, Oldfield set his sights on achieving stardom in the shot put as an Olympian. In 1972 he made the US Olympic
team, but finished in 6th place. He bounced back less than a year later by setting his first world record, with a throw of 21.60 m (70'10½"). However, this record was not official due to his affiliation with professional track & field.
In 1975, his throw of 22.86 m (75') set another unofficial world record. Though unofficial, Oldfield's accomplishment did not go unnoticed. After setting this mark, he had earned a cover spot on Sports Illustrated
, and also made an appearance in a 1975 issue of Playgirl
. In his Sports Illustrated interview, he confidently asserted that he expected to be throwing over 80' before 1980. In 1984, at age 38, he finally set an official record with a throw of 22.19 m (72'9") to set a new American mark. When asked how he was able to do it by a commentator at the event he responded "I had a 'throw-gasm.'"
It is possible that Oldfield is even more well-known for his unusual personality. He often wore his hair long in a style he called the "Oldfield Mop" and would occasionally sport a beard. His antics were also considered to be bizarre by his competitors. At the 1972 US Olympic Trials, an opponent was quoted as saying "I will retire the day that I lose to someone like Brian Oldfield." Oldfield would sometimes smoke cigarettes in between throws at competitions to show that he could beat anyone, even while smoking. Not surprising for the man who said "When God created man, he wanted him to look like me."
Oldfield competed in the World's Strongest Man
contest in 1978, finishing seventh in a field of ten competitors. He also competed in Scottish Highland Games
in the 1970s. Utilizing his experience in the shot put, he set many field records in the Stone put
. His career-best throw of 63'2" in the light stone, accomplished at Braemar
, Scotland
, in 1973, is still a world record.
Oldfield also starred in the 1989 film Savage Instinct, later renamed They Call Me Macho Woman!
as Mongo, the crazed drug lord. In the film, Oldfield wears a special spiked headgear that he uses to head butt people to death. The movie was highly unsuccessful.
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
ter, Oldfield is credited with making the rotational technique popular. With his "Oldfield spin," he set the indoor and outdoor world records in the sport many times. However, due to his status as a professional athlete, his records were never officially recognized.
Life and career
Oldfield began his career at Middle Tennessee State UniversityMiddle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
where he won the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
championship three times. The University recognized his achievements by inducting him into their athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
After holding several jobs, Oldfield set his sights on achieving stardom in the shot put as an Olympian. In 1972 he made the US Olympic
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
team, but finished in 6th place. He bounced back less than a year later by setting his first world record, with a throw of 21.60 m (70'10½"). However, this record was not official due to his affiliation with professional track & field.
In 1975, his throw of 22.86 m (75') set another unofficial world record. Though unofficial, Oldfield's accomplishment did not go unnoticed. After setting this mark, he had earned a cover spot on Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, and also made an appearance in a 1975 issue of Playgirl
Playgirl
Playgirl is a print quarterly adult magazine published in the United States that is marketed mainly to heterosexual women, but has also gained a considerable gay following...
. In his Sports Illustrated interview, he confidently asserted that he expected to be throwing over 80' before 1980. In 1984, at age 38, he finally set an official record with a throw of 22.19 m (72'9") to set a new American mark. When asked how he was able to do it by a commentator at the event he responded "I had a 'throw-gasm.'"
It is possible that Oldfield is even more well-known for his unusual personality. He often wore his hair long in a style he called the "Oldfield Mop" and would occasionally sport a beard. His antics were also considered to be bizarre by his competitors. At the 1972 US Olympic Trials, an opponent was quoted as saying "I will retire the day that I lose to someone like Brian Oldfield." Oldfield would sometimes smoke cigarettes in between throws at competitions to show that he could beat anyone, even while smoking. Not surprising for the man who said "When God created man, he wanted him to look like me."
Oldfield competed in the World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
contest in 1978, finishing seventh in a field of ten competitors. He also competed in Scottish Highland Games
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
in the 1970s. Utilizing his experience in the shot put, he set many field records in the Stone put
Stone put
The stone put is one of the main Scottish heavy athletic events at modern-day Highland games gatherings. Similar to the shot put, the stone put more frequently uses an ordinary stone or rock instead of a steel ball...
. His career-best throw of 63'2" in the light stone, accomplished at Braemar
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an altitude of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1973, is still a world record.
Oldfield also starred in the 1989 film Savage Instinct, later renamed They Call Me Macho Woman!
They Call Me Macho Woman!
They Call Me Macho Woman! is a 1989 action film written and directed by Patrick G. Donahue and distributed by Troma Entertainment.The story follows city woman Susan Morris , who decides to escape her banal urban life and goes looking for a house in the country...
as Mongo, the crazed drug lord. In the film, Oldfield wears a special spiked headgear that he uses to head butt people to death. The movie was highly unsuccessful.