Missouri coach earns silver in Beijing
Missouri volunteer assistant track coach Christian Cantwell captured a silver medal in men’s shot put Friday in Beijing. However, when he entered the ring before his final throw he stood in fifth place.
As 91,000 people watched Cantwell from inside the Bird’s Nest, he managed to chuck the 16-pound metal ball 69 feet, 2.5 inches on his last attempt and climb into second place.
Tomasz Majewski of Poland won the gold by throwing a personal-best 70 feet, 6.5 inches.
Cantwell was a seven-time All-American for MU in his collegiate career, and has now captured in Olympic medal in his first attempt.
While gold was clearly what Cantwell had in mind, he has become only the sixth Missouri athlete to medal at the Olympics.