Shot putters take toss at history

By Jeff Metcalfe

The Arizona Republic

ATHENS, Greece — So, where did we leave off? You remember, of course, Armenian Prince Varazdates and the spectacle of his boxing triumph. And who can forget Zopyros of Athens, wrestling-boxing his way to the junior pankration crown.

It seems like just yesterday, and a scant 1,611 years later, the boys are back in Olympia. This time the girls were invited, too, and for more than marrying off.

In the spectacle of all spectacles in the Olympics’ return to Greece, the men’s and women’s shot put will be held Wednesday at the revered site of the ancient Games, near where the flame for each modern Olympics is lighted.

"It’s the lush, ancient Olympic scene," said John Godina, the two-time Olympic shot put medalist who now makes Mesa his home. He and the other U.S. throwers, who could pull off a men’s medals sweep, have been in Olympia, 210 miles southwest of Athens, since Sunday. "It’s really getting me charged up. I have to relax myself so I don’t waste any nervous energy.

It’s exactly what you’d think it was going to be." That’s the rub of being part of the emotional touchstone of these Olympics.

It’s simultaneously inspiring and draining, with as much potential for crashing like world shot put leader Christian Cantwell did at the U.S. Olympic Trials as for soaring in the personal playground of Zeus and Hercules.

"I just want to keep it as serious as possible," said Reese Hoffa, who competed wearing a mask in 2003 as the Unknown Shot Putter. "Olympia itself is enough attention right now. I don’t want to make a mockery of the site or Olympia itself."

Godina, Adam Nelson and Hoffa could post the first U.S. men’s sweep since 1960. Godina places those odds at 50-50, but first priority for the 32-year-old is to add gold to his silver medal from 1996 and bronze from 2000.

Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus and Janus Robberts of South Africa could challenge the Americans, but the U.S. treasure chest of 46 all-time men’s shot medals will almost certainly grow.

Russians Irina Korzhanenko and Svetlana Krivelyova are favorites to become the first female champion at Olympia, where women participated only as chariot-race owners during the ancient Games.

There was no shot put in Olympia, either. Discus and javelin were the throws in the pentathlon, which also included long jump, running and wrestling.

Modern style — allowing two body turns rather than three-quarters of a turn — and distances make the discus impossible in a stadium that is only 232 yards long. Some 45,000 crammed in for the ancient Olympics, but attendance is restricted to a third of that today.

And unlike the ancients, today’s Olympians are keeping their clothes on.

"Most of the fans are very thankful about that," Godina said. "Not all of them. I’m sure some people that would for some strange reason enjoy it. But there’s not a lot of people with shot-putter fetishes."