James Daniel Parker (December 3, 1975 – August 19, 2023) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the hammer throw.[1] He represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He won the silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games.
 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  United States
| ||
| Pan American Games | ||
 |
2003 Santo Domingo | Hammer throw |
Life and career
editJames D. Parker was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on December 3, 1975.[2] Parker grew up in Layton, Utah.[3] At Layton's Northridge High School, Parker was a track and football athlete. He won the state championship in shot put his junior and senior year, and the discus as a senior. He graduated in 1994.[4]
Utah State
editFor university, he joined the Utah State University athletics team where he would earn All-American track honors nine times. At Utah State, Parker competed in hammer throw and discus.[5] In 2001, Parker graduated from Utah State in with degrees in exercise science and human biology.[3]
Air Force and Olympics
editAfter university, Parker would go on to join the U.S. Air Force, serving as first lieutenant and continuing his athletic career as part of the World Class Athlete Program.[6][7] In 2004, he set a personal best in the hammer throw with a throw of 79.20 meters (259 feet 10 inches), qualifying him for the Olympics.[8][5] That year, he was named Air Force Athlete of the Year.[9] At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Parker caught a stomach ailment and failed to make it out of qualifying.[10]
Parker would later rise to become deputy commander of the 380th Expeditionary Services Squadron.[9] He was unsuccessful in his attempt to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[11]
Chiropractic career
editAfter leaving the military, Parker attended the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon, earning a doctorate in chiropractic practice.[3] In 2011, he opened a private practice in Davis County, Utah.[12][4]
In 2012, Parker was inducted into the Utah State University Athletics Hall of Fame. At the time, he was the most decorated athlete in Utah State's history.[5]
Parker later coached Paralympian David Blair to a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio. Parker would later join the medical team for Team USA, travelling to Tokyo in 2021 as a chiropractor for the 2020 Summer Games and 2020 Paralympic Games.[13][14]
Death
editParker died on August 19, 2023, at age 47 from a heart attack while hiking near Huntsville, Utah.[15][12]
Competition record
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing the United States
| |||||
| 2001 | Universiade | Beijing, China | – | Hammer throw | NM |
| 2003 | Pan American Games | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | 2nd | Hammer throw | 74.35 m |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 21st (q) | Hammer throw | 75.04 m |
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 20th (q) | Hammer throw | 71.95 m |
References
edit- ^ James Parker at World Athletics
- ^ "James Parker". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Aggie Hall of Famer and All-American James Parker Dies". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ex-Olympic athlete returns to Davis County roots". The Salt Lake Tribune. December 7, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c "James Parker (2012) - Hall of Fame". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "Air Force lieutenant ready to hammer". USA Today. July 30, 2004. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ "Hammer time: Parker preparing for Olympics". Deseret News. August 7, 2004. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Woodring, J.C. (July 17, 2004). "Airman earns spot on Olympic track, field team". US Air Force.
- ^ a b Hammond, Mike. "The Hammer". US Air Force.
- ^ "Stomach ailment hammers Parker". Deseret News. August 21, 2004. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "Former USU Hammer Thrower Parker In U.S. Olympic Trials Finals". The Utah Statesman. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "James Daniel Parker Obituary 2023". Lindquist Mortuary. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Steinbrecher, Lauren (August 26, 2023). "Family of late Utah Olympic athlete and Paralympic coach feeling support from around the world". KSLTV.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Cabrero, Alex (August 8, 2021). "Kaysville Chiropractor Helps Athletes On US Track And Field Team In Tokyo". KSLTV.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "James Parker". Olympedia. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
External links
edit- James Parker at World Athletics
- James Parker at legacy.USATF.org (archived)
- James Parker at Olympics.com
- James Parker at Team USA (archived)
- James Parker at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- James Parker at Olympedia (archive)
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