For the latest statistics of Reese's throwing, see RESULTS

Videos of Reese as he talks about participating in the 2008 Olympics

We're proud of our Olympian
Columbia County News Times - Evans, GA, USA -- August 20, 2008
There were an awful lot of hopes dashed this past week when Reese Hoffa, the Lakeside High School graduate and top-ranked shot putter, came in seventh place ...

The AZ Of The Olympics
Sky News - Isleworth, England, UK - August 14, 2008
H is for Hoffa. Or perhaps scoffer. World champion Reese Hoffa has an unusual celebration. The shot-putter likes to do laps of honour munching on a giant ...

Shot put favourite's painful past
TVNZ - New Zealand - August 11, 2008
The path to the Beijing Olympics has not been a smooth one for Reese Hoffa, a world champion shot putter whose lively spirit and gentle smile belie an early ...

Hoffa gives it his best shot while two mothers cheer
Online Athens - Athens, GA, USA - August 10, 2008
Olympian Reese Hoffa works out last month at the University of Georgia's Spec Towns Track. Hoffa's adoptive and birth mothers will watch him compete. ...

Reese won the silver medal at the Indoor World Championships in Valencia, Spain

IAAF report - March 7, 2008

Hoffa Is One Of the Best In The World
WRDW-TV - Augusta, GA, USA - Feb 12, 2008
Athens, Ga--Yesterday we told you the story of Lakeside High product Reese Hoffa. From his being left in an orphanage to being adopted by a couple who moved ...

Hoffa Comes From Humble Beginings To Be Olympian
WRDW-TV - Augusta, GA, USA - Feb 11, 2008
Athens, Ga--Lakeside product reese hoffa is the current World and United States champion in the shotput, probably an olympian in a few months. ...

Reese won the Gold at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan !!!

Photo1 Photo2 Photo3 Results August 25, 2007

Reese PR'd and won the London Grand Prix!!!

News from the Norwich Union London Grand Prix

From the London Times Online -- August 4, 2007

Meanwhile, across the track Reese Hoffa, the flamboyant American, produced a stadium record with the second farthest throw seen in Britain in the shot put, reaching 22.43m in the final round to win and confirm himself as favourite for Osaka.

Hoffa earns shot put title at World Final

STUTTGART, Germany - Athenian Reese Hoffa claimed yet another shot put title at the IAAF World Athletics Final on Saturday.

Hoffa, who already earned U.S. and world titles during the 2006 indoor season, unleashed a throw of 21.05 meters to clinch his latest win and further solidify his No. 1 ranking in the world. 

After an earlier throw of 19.92, the 2004 Olympian beat out fellow American Christian Cantwell, whose best effort was 20.94, to lock down his victory.

Hoffa, a five-time All-American at Georgia, still trains with the Bulldogs' throws coach Don Babbitt.

Hoffa's next meet is at the IAAF World Cup in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 16-17. A win would likely guarantee Hoffa the world's No. 1 ranking to end the season.

Reese finishes second at the 2006 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indiannapolis

Gatlin 9.93, Nelson powers to Shot Put title - USATF Nationals Day ...
International Association of Athletics Foundation - Monaco
... Nelson's 22.04 was the winner. Reese Hoffa, always close, muscled the shot 21.96 on his last try to edge past Cantwell for second. ...

Heidler's 75.38 in the Hammer Throw the Highlight in Lille
IAAF - Monaco - June 10, 2006
... winds. Throwers achieved the best performances led by Betty Heidler in the Hammer Throw (75.38) and Reese Hoffa in Shot Put (21.70m). ...

Dakar earns its Grand Prix Status, over 60,000 spectators - IAAF World Athletics Tour
IAAF - Sunday 30 April 2006
... With the shot put taking place in two legs and the final results coming from the aggregate of the two competitions, the reigning World champion Adam Nelson clinched the honours with a first round throw of 21.28 metres on Gorée giving him the edge over his compatriot and the World Indoor champion, Reese Hoffa, who managed a best effort of 20.81 with his third throw...

Moscow supplies Top Performances in March – IAAF World Rankings
IAAF - Monaco - April 8, 2006
... category. US shot putter Reese Hoffa won the World Indoor Championship in Moscow with a personal best of 22.11m (1447 points). It ...

Reese is the IAAF's top male performer of the month for March 2006

Moscow supplies Top Performances in March – IAAF World Rankings
International Association of Athletics Foundation - Monaco
... category. US shot putter Reese Hoffa won the World Indoor Championship in Moscow with a personal best of 22.11m (1447 points). It ...

USA Track and Field - USA - March 13, 2006
... Other notable performances at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships include ... The 2004 World Indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa captured gold in the shot put when he unleashed a massive world-leading and personal best heave of 22.11m/72-6.5. Hoffa's throw ranks #8 on the all-time indoor list and makes him the fourth-best performer all-time ...

Hoffa's 22.11m for gold - World Indoor Championships

from IAAF - Friday 10 March 2006 ... Moscow, Russia - From his first throw on (21.41m), the issue was not in doubt as America’s Reese Hoffa took gold with a personal best 22.11 (round 2)...

Hoffa tops talented field to win shot put at US Indoors
Daily Times - February 27, 2006
BOSTON: Reese Hoffa emerged from a talented field that included a pair of Olympic medalists to win his first shot put title at the US Indoor Track & Field Championships with a throw of 21.61 meters (70 feet, 10 3/4 inches) Saturday.

Christian Cantwell, the 2004 world indoor champion, finished second with a toss of 21.10 (69-2 3/4). The top two finishers in each event _ excluding Friday’s weight throws _ qualify for athletics’ Indoor World Championships in Moscow on March 10-12.

Four-time indoor national champion John Godina, who won the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and the bronze at the 2000 Olympics, finished third. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson was fourth.

“The guys I beat were all world champions, you can’t ask for anything better than that,” Hoffa said. “I didn’t think I’d have a chance because Adam is in incredible shape.” ...

Reese won the Shotput at the U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships

from Forbes - February 25, 2006 ... Reese Hoffa can finally call himself an elite shot putter. Hoffa emerged from a talented field that included a pair of Olympic medalists to win his first shot put title at the U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships with a throw of 70 feet, 10 3/4 inches Saturday.

Reese was named Athlete of the Week by USATF

from USA Track and Field - February 7, 2006 ... Reese Hoffa has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the Visa Men's shot put Friday night at the Millrose Games in New York City.

Reese won the Shotput at the Millrose Games and the Fred Schmertz trophy as the top performer of the meet

from USA Today - 2/7/2006 ... At the 99th running of the Millrose Games in New York, Visa Championship Series leader Reese Hoffa was named the meet's top performer with a world-best (through 36 days of 2006) toss of 71-½ in the shot put. Hoffa's mark bested reigning World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell and World Outdoor champion Adam Nelson, who finished second and third.

Hoffa's heroics anchor exciting 99th Millrose Games
USA Track and Field - USA - February 3, 2006
Led by a world-leading performance by Reese Hoffa in the Visa men's shot put, a photo finish in the adidas women's 60m and an impressive run by Bernard Lagat ...

Reese won the Shotput at the Boston Indoor Games

from the Boston Herald -- Sunday January 29, 2006 ... Big Reese Hoffa escalated his effort with each throw to capture first place with a final heave of 69-1 yesterday in the shot put. Hoffa’s first shot went 67 feet, followed by a throw of 68-10. His best effort came on the third attempt and sailed long enough to beat Christian Cantwell (69-0) and favorite Adam Nelson, a silver medal winner in the past two Olympics ...

World leaders, fast times at Reebok Boston Indoor Games
USA Track and Field - USA - January 28, 2006
... Reigning World Indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa won a typically close men's shot put competition with a best toss of 21.07m/69-1.5, the best throw in the ...

Reese and Renata exchanged wedding vows in Acworth, GA on November 26, 2005. more pictures

Americans claim seven victories Saturday at World Athletics Final
USA Track and Field - USA - Sept. 10, 2005
... Nelson threw a meet record 21.92m/71-11 to win easily over Joachim Olsen of Denmark (21.03/69-0), with Reese Hoffa third (20.87/68-5.75) and US champion ...

A Lost Child Finds Himself in Adulthood
Washington Post - Washington,DC,USA - June 26, 2005
By Amy Shipley. Reese Hoffa was 4 years old when he burned down his family's house. He remembers the circumstances vividly. His brother ...

Reese won the Shotput at the Drake Relays!!!
from the IAAF -- Sunday May 1, 2005 Reese Hoffa out-duelled Christian Cantwell, Jamie Beyer and Dan Taylor to win the men's Shot. On the final put of the competition, Cantwell had a chance to better Hoffa's fifth-round 20.99, but fell short by two centimetres at 20.97. Also over 20m were Beyer, at 20.35, and Taylor, at 20.12.

Williamson defeats Wariner - 2005 Drake Relays REPORT
IAAF - Monaco - Sunday May 1, 2005
... Reese Hoffa out-duelled Christian Cantwell, Jamie Beyer and Dan Taylor to win the men's shot. On the final put of the competition ...

Carruthers improves again, Nelson sweats it out in Race for the ...
USA Track and Field - USA Feb 14, 2005
... Shot putter Reese Hoffa maintained his second-place status, having scored 1,218 points scored at Millrose with his winning shot put of 21.62 seconds. ...

Reese won the Shotput at the Millrose Games!!!

Hoffa’s 21.62m upstages Nelson
from the IAAF -- Saturday Feb. 5, 2005

Throwers take center stage

from USATF Feb. 2005

The top four shot putters in the world – Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, John Godina and Reese Hoffa – literally took center stage at the Garden as they engaged in an intense four rounds of throwing. The 2004 world indoor silver medalist, Hoffa emerged as a somewhat surprise winner, popping off an indoor personal-best throw of 21.62m/70-11.25 in the fourth and final round. John Godina, who had led the competition since the first round, was second with 21.17m/69-5.5; Visa Championship points leader Adam Nelson was third at 21.00m/68-10.75; and Christian Cantwell was fourth with 20.37m/66-10.0.

Hoffa upstages training partner Nelson
 
Reese Hoffa got the upper hand on training partner Adam Nelson to win the Shot Put with a Madison Square Garden record and career-best 21.62 in the fourth and final round of the competition held in the spotlight in the centre of track.

Former three-time World outdoor champion John Godina was second with an opening round throw of 21.17m but fouled on his final three attempts. Nelson, the double Olympic silver medallist and the winner of the Boston Indoor Games last week, was third on 21.00m exactly, and 2004 World Indoor Champion Christian Cantwell was fourth with 20.37m.

Hoffa’s mark broke Cantwell’s Madison Square Garden record of 21.28m set in 2004. Randy Barnes holds the Millrose Games record of 22.12m set in 1989 in a competition held at Manhattan College. Hoffa, a 2004 U.S. Olympian, but who didn’t pass through the qualification round in Olympia, only had a best effort of 20.19m heading into the final round last night after fouling on two of his three attempts before producing his winning throw. Hoffa said the concentrated on straightening his throw after his other efforts veered to the left.

“I knew I had the possibility of going over 70 feet,” Hoffa said. “I had to make the adjustment in the back of the ring and do everything that I did exactly the same on the last throw. I had some trouble putting it together when I needed to. I finally got to one of those meets where I finally did.”

Hoffa trains with Nelson in Athens, Georgia under the tutelage of University of Georgia throws coach Don Babbitt. Hoffa said the friendly rivalry with Nelson helped him rise on the international level in 2004 and capture a World Indoor silver medal. “Adam is the No. 1 guy in the world so having him there every day in practice elevates the way I practice,” Hoffa said. “The preparation for practice is just like going to a competition so when I come here it’s just like another practice.”

Hoffa's 21.62m upstages Nelson - Lagat runs into Mile history ...
International Association of Athletics Foundation - Monaco
In the infield Reese Hoffa surprised Adam Nelson with a huge Shot Put performance, as many of the old guard Stacy Dragila and Allen Johnson took straight ...

Shot Put press conference excerpts
USA Track and Field 01-28-2005
Shot putters Reese Hoffa, Adam Nelson and John Godina on Friday spoke to the press in advance of Saturday's Reebok Boston Indoor Games, which kicks off USATF's ...

World's top shot putters set for Reebok Boston Indoor Games
USA Track & Field Mon, 03 Jan 2005
Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, John Godina and Reese Hoffa, who among them lay claim to the 10 longest throws in the world for 2004, will compete in the shot put at the 2005 Reebok Boston Indoor Games on January 29. It will be the first time the shot put has been contested at the meet, which is celebrating its 10th year.

Cantwell, Nelson, Godina and Hoffa are set for Boston battle
IAAF Mon, 03 Jan 2005
Boston, USA - Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, John Godina and Reese Hoffa, who among them lay claim to the 10 longest throws in the world for 2004, will compete in the Shot Put at the 2005 Reebok Boston Indoor Games on 29 January.

CRAGG FACES BEKELE IN BOSTON
onrunning.com Tue, 04 Jan 2005
Ireland's top distance star Alistair Cragg will line-up against Olympic 10,000 metres gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele later this month in Boston.

The men's and women's shot put were the first track and field events of the Olympics this year. Shot put is the only event that was held at Olympia, among the ruins of the ancient Olympic stadium where the Games originated.

The men's shot put finals were held on August 18, 2004 at 5:30 PM in Athens. In the finals Reese's U.S. teammate Adam Nelson win the silver medal. He lives and trains with Reese and other throwers in Athens, GA.

Here's what happened that morning in Olympia.

First off, Reese and one other guy did not get their two warm up throws like everyone else. They only got one. They started the competition without allowing them to throw the second.

His first throw was short. His second throw was just at the qualifying line - probably would have been enough - but it was declared a foul. Currently they are not sure why it was a foul. Reese didn't think so, people there didn't think so. They watched a video of it (though it was shot from behind Reese) and it doesn't look like it was a foul on that either. His third and final throw was also short.

So Reese didn't qualify to advance to the finals in shot put this year. Reese is the youngest member of the U.S. men's shot put team this year, so maybe he'll get another chance in 2008.

Shot putters ready to enter Olympic ring
US Track & Field 8/17/2004

John Godina/Reese Hoffa press conference quotes
USA Track & Field 8/16/2004

Hoffa seeks storybook finish
The Augusta Chronicle 8/15/2004

Meet Team USA (scroll down to Craziest category)
Sports Illustrated 8/13/2004

Georgia's Athens well represented in Olympic shot put competition
Savannah Morning News 8/13/2004

The upshot is, look for U.S. to do well
San Francisco Chronicle 8/10/2004

Other Athens served as training ground for Olympians
The Associated Press 8/9/2004

U.S. young guns ready for Athens
The Associated Press 7/23/2004

"The shot put will be held at Mount Olympus, site of the ancient Greek games, and the American men could sweep there, too, even though their top thrower, Christian Cantwell, failed to qualify at the trials. Cantwell, 2000 silver medalist Adam Nelson, two-time Olympic medalist John Godina and Olympic newcomer Reese Hoffa have dominated international competition this year."

USA Track & Field News & Notes 7/23/2004:

"When Team USA competes on the Olympic track, attention often is focused on the sprints and relays. For the United States it is in hurdles, shot put, long jump and pole vault where the American men have most often brought home the gold, silver and bronze."

"...Second in medal-hauling history is the men's shot put, with 16 gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze, for 45 total medals. At the 2004 Olympic Games, John Godina will try to add to his Olympic silver (1996) and bronze (2000), while 2000 silver medalist Adam Nelson goes for his second medal and Reese Hoffa tries to make it a sweep in any order of finish. Parry O'Brien (gold '52 and '56, silver in '60) and Ralph Rose (gold in '04 and '08, silver in '12) set the standard with two gold and a silver each."

Phelps, 100 meters headline men's events
ESPN 8/10/2004: "Return to Olympia (shot put) --
Normally the shot put is not a "must see" event, but this year is different, and truly special, because the competition will be held at Olympia, among the ruins of the ancient Olympic stadium. Nobody has competed there for thousands of years, but 15,000 spectators will sit on grassy slopes to watch both the men's and women's prelims and finals all in one day of action, Nice bonus for U.S. viewers: Americans have a good chance to sweep, with Adam Nelson (2004 top throw: 71-1.5), Reese Hoffa (2004 top throw: 71-1.25) and John Godina (2004 top throw: 71-2.75) all potential gold medalists."

USATF submits preliminary Olympic roster to USOC
USA Track & Field 7/19/2004