Kibwe Johnson
Encyclopedia
Kibwe Johnson is an American track and field
athlete who specializes in the hammer throw
. He has represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics twice (2007 and 2011).
He is a two-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). 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
.
er, before starting to focus more on the hammer while studying at the University of Georgia
. Johnson performed poorly academically and later moved to Ashland University
and represented them in NCAA Division II competitions. He competed at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials
in both the discus and hammer, placing eighth and 19th respectively. 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. 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.
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. 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
. 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. 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.
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. 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.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete who specializes in the hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
. He has represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics twice (2007 and 2011).
He is a two-time medalist at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, having taken silver in 2007 and improved to the gold in 2011 (where he broke the Games record). 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
Weight throw
The weight throw is a track and field event that is held at Scottish Highland games and occasionally at indoor track meets.In the Highland Games, the weight throw consists of two separate events, the light weight and the heavy weight. In both cases, the implement consists of a steel or lead weight ...
.
Career
Born in San Francisco, he initially started as a discus throwDiscus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
er, before starting to focus more on the hammer while studying at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. Johnson performed poorly academically and later moved to Ashland University
Ashland University
Ashland University is a mid-sized, private, non-profit university that is located in Ashland, Ohio.The University offers 73 undergraduate majors and nine pre-professional programs. The majors include toxicology/environmental science and entrepreneurship, which are unusual for an institution of its...
and represented them in NCAA Division II competitions. He competed at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
in both the discus and hammer, placing eighth and 19th respectively. He placed third in the weight throw
Weight throw
The weight throw is a track and field event that is held at Scottish Highland games and occasionally at indoor track meets.In the Highland Games, the weight throw consists of two separate events, the light weight and the heavy weight. In both cases, the implement consists of a steel or lead weight ...
at the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
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. 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
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
later that year.
Johnson had his breakthrough season in 2007. He won the discus event at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
then came runner-up in the hammer at the 2007 USA Outdoors. Making his international debut at the 2007 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2007 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 2007 Pan American Games was held at the Flamengo Park and Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro between 22 July and 29 July 2007...
, he had a throw of 73.23 m on his final attempt, which brought him the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
behind Canada's James Steacy
James Steacy
James Steacy is a male hammer thrower from Canada. His personal best is 79.13 metres, achieved in May 2008 in Lethbridge. Four Time CIS national champion weight throw champion.-Achievements:-References:...
. Johnson was selected to represent the United States at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
, 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
Tore Gustafsson
Lars Tore Gustafsson is a retired male hammer thrower from Sweden, who competed at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988...
and Koji Murofushi
Koji Murofushi
is a Japanese hammer thrower. He has been among the world elite since the 2001 World Championships, where he won the silver medal. He was olympic champion during the Athens Olympics. In 2011, He was crowned world champion.-Career:...
offered him encouragement and technical advice. 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.
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
2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at Drake Stadium, Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa on June 23-27, 2010. In order to boost the visibility of this event, USATF sponsored a member appreciation tent at the event and promoted the entire week as "Membership appreciation...
(throwing 76.31 m). A personal best throw of 80.31 m at the 2011 USA Outdoors
2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Organised by USA Track and Field, the four-day competition took place from June 23–26 and served as the national championships in track and field for the United States...
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
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
, but his best throw of 75.06 m in qualifying was not enough to reach the final. He was also chosen to represent his country at the 2011 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games
Athletics competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara was held from October 23 to October 30 at the newly built Telmex Athletics Stadium. The racewalking and marathon events were held on the temporary Guadalajara Circuit and Route and the Pan American Marathon circuit respectively...
in Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
. At the competition he improved from his silver in 2007 to take the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
with a Pan American Games record mark of 79.63 m, improving Lance Deal
Lance Deal
Lance Earl Deal is a former American athlete who won a silver medal in the hammer throw in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He also competed in the 1988, 1992, and 2000 Summer Olympics....
's record from 1999.