C. J. Hunter

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = C. J. Hunter

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Cottrell James Hunter III

| birth_date = {{birth date|1968|12|14|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|11|28|1968|12|14}}

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's Athletics}}

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

}}

Cottrell James Hunter III (December 14, 1968 – November 28, 2021) was an American shot putter, coach, and the 1999 World Champion.

Hunter is well known for his involvement in the BALCO scandal and as the former spouse of sprinter Marion Jones.

Biography

=College career=

The 6'1", 330 lb Hunter was a three-time All-American at Penn State University, where he still holds the outdoor and indoor shot put record (65'5" and 64'4½", or 19.93 m and 19.62 m respectively). He earned his B.A. in political science in 1991. Hunter first began throwing the shot after failing to make the basketball team at Hyde Park, New York's Franklin D. Roosevelt Senior High School.

=Olympics and failed drug test=

Hunter competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing seventh.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/hu/c-j-hunter-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418033408/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/hu/c-j-hunter-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18}} Hunter's personal best throw was 71' 9", (21.87 m) thrown during a 2nd-place finish in the 2000 US Olympic Trials.

Hunter tested positive for the performance-enhancing steroid Nandrolone at the Bislett Games, which was revealed before he was scheduled to compete in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Hunter was dropped from the team as a result.[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-122136808.html Phil Hersh, Chicago Tribune article][https://web.archive.org/web/20121102190150/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-65454585.html Sydney Gazette]

=Personal life=

Hunter first met Marion Jones when she was 16. They reconnected in 1995 when he was hired as a coach with the University of North Carolina track team. He was forced to resign from his position after refusing to conform with school rules that prohibited coach-athlete dating. They married on October 3, 1998, and divorced in 2002 following the BALCO scandal.

Hunter resided in Holly Springs, North Carolina with his son Nico from his third marriage.

Hunter died on November 28, 2021, at the age of 52.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theindianpaper.com/blog/athletics-shot-putter-cj-hunter-marion-jones-ex-husband-has-died/ |title=Athletics: Shot putter CJ Hunter, Marion Jones' ex-husband, has died |access-date=2021-11-30 |archive-date=2021-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130212846/https://www.theindianpaper.com/blog/athletics-shot-putter-cj-hunter-marion-jones-ex-husband-has-died/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|title=Le lanceur de poids américain CJ Hunter est mort|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Athletisme/Actualites/Le-lanceur-de-poids-americain-cj-hunter-est-mort/1302169|access-date=2021-11-30|website=L'Équipe|language=fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/12/02/cj-hunter-dies-shot-put/|title=Shot putter C.J. Hunter dies at 52|date=2 December 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23264215/cottrell-cj-hunter-iii/wake-forest/north-carolina/bright-funeral-home|title=Cottrell "CJ" Hunter, III Obituary}}

References

External links

[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2000/hunter.html C. J. Hunter biography] at USA Track & Field
[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=302 C. J. Hunter photo, biography & stats] at sporting-heroes.net
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174809/http://www.blackathlete.com/Track%26Field/index.shtml "It's been going on for a long, long time"], Black Athlete Sports Network, August 28, 2004

{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's shot put}}

Category:1968 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:African-American track and field athletes

Category:American track and field coaches

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1995 Pan American Games

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Category:Doping cases in athletics

Category:NC State Wolfpack football coaches

Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States

Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni