Richard Slaney
Encyclopedia
Richard Charles Slaney (born May 16, 1956) is a British
discus thrower who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics
and strongman
competitor, notable for being a repeat winner of the Britain's Strongest Man
title.
, Surrey
. As a sportsman he was foremost a field athlete
specialising in the discus. However, whilst actively pursuing this sport, he did compete as a strength athlete
and won the Britain's Strongest Man
competition in 1980 and 1982. He also finished second behind Geoff Capes
in the 1980 Europe's Strongest Man
competition. As a discus thrower he qualified for the 1984 Olympic Games
finishing 15th overall. Domestically, he threw the 2nd best UK discus performance of 1980, 3rd best in 1981 and the top UK discus performances in 1982 to 1986 inclusive. In 1986 he was also the national discus champion for the first and only time. His personal best of 65.16m makes him the second best British thrower after Perriss Wilkins.
At the 1984 Olympics Slaney is remembered for carrying his fiancee Mary Decker
from the track after she lay stricken at trackside during the 3,000m final, having tripped over the bare feet of Zola Budd
. They married on 1 January 1985, and had daughter Ashley (born May 30, 1986) the following year.
After he retired in 1986 he became a businessman who restores antique airplanes living with his family on a 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) ranch in Eugene, Oregon
, where his wife can now jog
every other day and walking their three Weimaraner
dogs.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
discus thrower who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
competitor, notable for being a repeat winner of the Britain's Strongest Man
Britain's Strongest Man
Britain's Strongest Man is an annual strongman event held in the United Kingdom. Competitors qualify for the final through regional heats and the winner is awarded the title of "Britain's Strongest Man"...
title.
Biography
Slaney was born in RedhillRedhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. As a sportsman he was foremost a field athlete
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...
specialising in the discus. However, whilst actively pursuing this sport, he did compete as a strength athlete
Strength athlete
A strength athlete is a person who trains for or competes in events in which muscular strength and power play a primary role. Such events include weightlifting and powerlifting, strength athletics and strongman competitions, and arm wrestling, as well as the "heavy throws" of track and field:...
and won the Britain's Strongest Man
Britain's Strongest Man
Britain's Strongest Man is an annual strongman event held in the United Kingdom. Competitors qualify for the final through regional heats and the winner is awarded the title of "Britain's Strongest Man"...
competition in 1980 and 1982. He also finished second behind Geoff Capes
Geoff Capes
Geoffrey Lewis Capes is a former athlete, strongman and professional Highland Games competitor...
in the 1980 Europe's Strongest Man
Europe's Strongest Man
Europe's Strongest Man is an annual strength athletics competition which began in 1980. The event is held in various locations throughout Europe, and features exclusively European strongman competitors. Mariusz Pudzianowski currently holds the record for most wins with 6 titles...
competition. As a discus thrower he qualified for the 1984 Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
finishing 15th overall. Domestically, he threw the 2nd best UK discus performance of 1980, 3rd best in 1981 and the top UK discus performances in 1982 to 1986 inclusive. In 1986 he was also the national discus champion for the first and only time. His personal best of 65.16m makes him the second best British thrower after Perriss Wilkins.
At the 1984 Olympics Slaney is remembered for carrying his fiancee Mary Decker
Mary Decker
Mary Slaney is an American former track athlete. During her career, she won gold medals in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at the 1983 World Championships, and set 17 official and unofficial world records and 36 US national records.-Biography:Mary Decker was born in Bunnvale, Hunterdon County, New...
from the track after she lay stricken at trackside during the 3,000m final, having tripped over the bare feet of Zola Budd
Zola Budd
Zola Pieterse, better known by her maiden name of Zola Budd , is a former Olympic track and field competitor who, in less than three years, twice broke the world record in the women's 5000 metres and twice was the women's winner at the World Cross Country Championships...
. They married on 1 January 1985, and had daughter Ashley (born May 30, 1986) the following year.
After he retired in 1986 he became a businessman who restores antique airplanes living with his family on a 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) ranch in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, where his wife can now jog
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
every other day and walking their three Weimaraner
Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is a dog that was originally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game such as boar, bear, and deer. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals like...
dogs.