Kibwé Johnson Explained

Birth Date:17 July 1981
Weight:107kg (236lb)
Sport:Athletics
Event:Hammer throw
Updated:22 July 2015

Kibwé Johnson (born July 17, 1981) is an American Olympic track and field athlete who specializes in the hammer throw. He has represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics three times (2007, 2011, and 2015). Competed in the 2012 London Olympics where he made the final and finished 9th. No American had made the final since 1996. Johnson competed in 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

He is a three-time medalist at the Pan American Games, having taken silver in 2007 and improved to the gold in 2011 (where he broke the Games record), and then repeated in 2015 in Toronto. He set his personal best of 80.31abbr=offNaNabbr=off in 2011. He was the 2011 USA Outdoor Champion in the hammer throw and the 2008 USA Indoor Champion in the weight throw where he recorded the second best mark in US history.

Career

Born in San Francisco, he initially started as a discus thrower, before starting to focus more on the hammer while studying at the University of Georgia. Johnson later moved to Moorpark Junior College in Moorpark, California before finishing at Ashland University where he later graduated and represented them in NCAA Division II competitions.[1] He competed at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials in both the discus and hammer, placing eighth and 19th respectively.[2] He placed third in the weight throw at the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and threw a best of 24.54abbr=offNaNabbr=off at the Oiler Open meet – a distance which ranked him as the third best American and eleventh best ever in the history of the event.[3] A personal record hammer throw of 78.25 m in May saw him rank third nationally that year. He was the runner-up in the weight throw at the 2006 USA Indoors, then finished in fourth place in the hammer throw at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships later that year.[2]

Johnson had his breakthrough season in 2007. He won the discus event at the Mt. SAC Relays then came runner-up in the hammer at the 2007 USA Outdoors.[2] Making his international debut at the 2007 Pan American Games, he had a throw of 73.23 m on his final attempt, which brought him the silver medal behind Canada's James Steacy.[4] Johnson was selected to represent the United States at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, but failed to record a valid throw in the qualifying round. In spite of this he remained positive about the experience and fellow throwers Tore Gustafsson and Koji Murofushi offered him encouragement and technical advice.[1] In 2008 he won the USA Indoors weight throw title – his first win at national level – but he fouled out at the 2008 Olympic Trials later in the season.[2] This frustrating result was the catalyst for his move to train with Dr. Bondarchuk.

After missing much of 2009, he returned to form in 2010 as he finished as runner-up in the hammer at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (throwing 76.31 m). A personal best throw of 80.31 m at the 2011 USA Outdoors saw Johnson take his first ever national outdoor title. As national champion, he gained his second opportunity to compete on the global stage at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, but his best throw of 75.06 m in qualifying was not enough to reach the final.[2] He was also chosen to represent his country at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. At the competition he improved from his silver in 2007 to take the gold medal with a Pan American Games record mark of 79.63 m, improving Lance Deal's record from 1999.[5]

In the last ten years, Kibwé has won 5 US Championships with 3 runner-up finishes. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing 8th in the men's hammer final.[6] One of the most versatile throwers of all time, he has the unofficial world record for combination of Hammer throw (80.31abbr=onNaNabbr=on), Discus (65.11abbr=onNaNabbr=on), indoor weight throw (25.12abbr=onNaNabbr=on).

Rowspan=22016USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldEugene, Oregonbgcolor=silver2ndHammer throw[7]
USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsPortland, Oregon15thWeight throw NM[8]
Rowspan=22015USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregonbgcolor=gold1stHammer throw[9]
USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA5thWeight throw[10]
2014USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsHornet Stadium (Sacramento)bgcolor=gold1stHammer throw[11]
2013USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDrake Stadium Des Moines, Iowa5thHammer throw[12]
2012USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldEugene, Oregonbgcolor=gold1stHammer throw[13]
2011USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregonbgcolor=gold1stHammer throw[14]
Rowspan=22010USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDrake Stadium Des Moines, Iowabgcolor=silver2ndHammer throw[15]
Annecy, Francebgcolor=gold1stHammer throw75,12 m
Rowspan=22009USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon32ndHammer throwNM[16]
USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA9thWeight throw[17]
Rowspan=22008USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldEugene, Oregon12thHammer throwNM[18]
USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MAbgcolor=gold1stWeight throw[19]
2007USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregonbgcolor=silver2ndHammer throw[20]
Rowspan=22006USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsIUPUI, Carroll Stadium4thHammer throw[21]
USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MAbgcolor=silver2ndWeight throw[22]
Rowspan=22005USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills13thHammer throw[23]
USA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MAbgcolor=cc990003rdWeight throw[24]
2004USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldCalifornia State University, Sacramento Alex G. Spanos Sports and Recreation Complex19thHammer throw[25]
2003USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsStanford University Cobb Track & Angel Field16thHammer throw[26]

Personal life

He is coached by former Soviet Olympic champion and coach, Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk. He is married to Crystal Smith Johnson, a former Canadian champion and record holder who also trained with Bondarchuk.[27] They have two daughters, born on 18 April 2012, and September 6, 2015. Johnson resides in Bradenton, Florida, where he is a throws coach at IMG Academy.

Notes and References

  1. Thompson, Glenn (April 2008, Volume 10, Issue 4). Kibwe Johnson Making His Own Way . Long and Strong. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  2. http://www.legacy.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Johnson_Kibwe.asp Kibwe Johnson
  3. http://www.legacy.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUID=USATF_2005_12_06_14_02_16 Johnson named Athlete of the Week
  4. Biscayart, Eduardo (2007-07-26). Ennis-London beats Felicien in a thriller – Pan American Games, Day 4 . IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  5. Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2011-10-27). Brenes improves to 44.65, Maggi sails 6.94m in Guadalajara - Pan American Games, Day 4 . IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.
  6. Web site: London 2012 hammer throw men - Olympic Athletics . 3 June 2017 . olympic.org . 26 April 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151123141359/http://www.olympic.org/olympic-results/london-2012/athletics/hammer-throw-m . 23 November 2015 .
  7. Web site: USA Track & Field Olympic Trials - Results - Full . . 2016-07-11 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160715122625/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials---Track---Field/Results.aspx . 2016-07-15 .
  8. Web site: 2016 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2016-03-12 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161026183401/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/USATF-Indoor-Track---Field-Championships/Results/Day-2.aspx . 2016-10-26 .
  9. Web site: 2016 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2016-03-12 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005155325/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2015/USATF-Outdoor-Championships/Results-by-Day/Results-FULL.aspx . 2016-10-05 .
  10. Web site: 2015 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2015-02-28 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170511073558/http://www.flashresults.com/2015_Meets/Indoor/02-27_USA/039-1_compiled.htm . 2017-05-11 .
  11. Web site: 2014 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2014-06-28 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160811174645/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2014/USATF-Outdoor-Championships/Complete-Results.aspx . 2016-08-11 .
  12. Web site: 2013 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2013-06-28 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013052301/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2013/USATFCS/Events/USA-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships/Results---Full.aspx . 2016-10-13 .
  13. Web site: USA Track & Field Olympic Trials - Results - Full . . 2012-06-21 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080855/http://www.usatf.org/events/2012/OlympicTrials-TF/Results/Results35-1.htm . 2016-03-04 .
  14. Web site: 2011 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2011-06-23 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216090018/http://www.usatf.org/events/2011/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/complete_senior.asp . 2017-02-16 .
  15. Web site: 2010 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2010-06-23 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170125070621/https://www.usatf.org/events/2010/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/completeresults.asp . 2017-01-25 .
  16. Web site: 2009 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2016-03-12 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170210125518/http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results.asp . 2017-02-10 .
  17. Web site: 2009 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2009-02-28 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005205815/http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/finalresults.asp . 2016-10-05 .
  18. Web site: 2008 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials Track and Field - Results - Full . . 2008-07-05 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005232205/http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/results/F35.asp . 2016-10-05 .
  19. Web site: 2008 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2008-02-24 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005213042/http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/F13.asp . 2016-10-05 .
  20. Web site: 2007 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full . . 2007-07-05 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170210130216/http://www.usatf.org/events/2007/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults_open.asp . 2017-02-10 .
  21. Web site: 2006 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full . . 2006-07-05 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170210125557/http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults.asp . 2017-02-10 .
  22. Web site: 2006 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2006-02-24 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310113424/http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults.asp . 2016-03-10 .
  23. Web site: 2005 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full . . 2005-06-24 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012429/http://www.usatf.org/events/2005/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults.asp . 2016-03-05 .
  24. Web site: 2005 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships - Results - Full . . 2005-02-24 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005221630/http://www.usatf.org/events/2005/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults.asp . 2016-10-05 .
  25. Web site: 2004 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials Track and Field - Results - Full . . 2004-07-12 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160718184736/http://www.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF/results/fullResults.asp . 2016-07-18 .
  26. Web site: 2003 USA Track & Field Outdoor Track and Field Championships - Results - Full . . 2003-06-24 . 2016-10-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703103007/http://www.usatf.org/events/2003/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults_open.asp . 2015-07-03 .
  27. http://www.kamloopstrackandfield.ca/kibwejohnson_n1.htm Kibwe Johnson