Christian Cantwell

Sport: Track and Field

Nation: United States of America

DOB: September 30, 1980

Hometown: Columbia, MO

Career Highlights: About the only thing Cantwell hasn't done during a long, consistent career as one of the United States' premier shot putters is win an Olympic gold medal - something he’ll be looking to change in London. “I will be happy with any color, but I’d really like the gold,” he said. Cantwell was the silver medalist in Beijing after coming up with a clutch throw on his final attempt to leapfrog two competitors. He has plenty of experience standing atop the podium, too, albeit not at the Summer Games. In addition to three gold medals from indoor world championships in 2004, ’08 and ’10, Cantwell also won gold at the 2009 outdoor worlds. At last year’s event, he finished fourth and missed bronze by just five centimeters despite coming off shoulder surgery. He said his back has been bothering him this year, but Cantwell still earned a spot on the competitive U.S. team with a third-place finish at the Olympic trials. “It’s a quick five-week turnaround,” he said. “I’ll try my hardest until then or die trying.”

Olympic History: 2008