James Parker (hammer thrower)

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James Daniel Parker (December 3, 1975 – August 19, 2023) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the hammer throw.{{World Athletics}} He represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He won the silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games.

Life and career

James D. Parker was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on December 3, 1975.{{Cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Parker_James.asp |title=James Parker |website=USA Track & Field |access-date=2013-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228023715/http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Parker_James.asp |archive-date=2018-02-28 |url-status=dead }} Parker grew up in Layton, Utah.{{Cite web |title=Aggie Hall of Famer and All-American James Parker Dies |url=https://utahstateaggies.com/news/2023/8/22/track-and-field-aggie-hall-of-famer-and-all-american-james-parker-dies |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Utah State University Athletics |language=en}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2011-12-07 |title=Ex-Olympic athlete returns to Davis County roots |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=52989623&itype=cmsid |access-date=2024-09-19 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US}}

= Utah State =

For 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.{{Cite web |title=James Parker (2012) - Hall of Fame |url=https://utahstateaggies.com/honors/hall-of-fame/james-parker/55 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Utah State University Athletics |language=en}} In 2001, Parker graduated from Utah State in with degrees in exercise science and human biology.

= Air Force and Olympics =

After 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.{{cite news |date=2004-07-30 |title=Air Force lieutenant ready to hammer |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/track/2004-07-30-af-hammer-thrower_x.htm |access-date=2013-10-27 |work=USA Today}}{{Cite web |date=2004-08-07 |title=Hammer time: Parker preparing for Olympics |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/8/6/19843038/hammer-time-parker-preparing-for-olympics/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} In 2004, he set a personal best in the hammer throw with a throw of {{convert|79.20|m|ftin|abbr=off|sp=us}}, qualifying him for the Olympics.{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/136514/airman-earns-spot-on-olympic-track-field-team/ |title=Airman earns spot on Olympic track, field team |website=US Air Force |date=July 17, 2004 |first=J.C. |last=Woodring}} That year, he was named Air Force Athlete of the Year.{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000574602/ |title=The Hammer|website=US Air Force |first=Mike |last=Hammond }} At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Parker caught a stomach ailment and failed to make it out of qualifying.{{Cite web |date=2004-08-21 |title=Stomach ailment hammers Parker |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/8/21/19846460/stomach-ailment-hammers-parker/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}

Parker would later rise to become deputy commander of the 380th Expeditionary Services Squadron. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{Cite news |url=https://usustatesman.com/former-usu-hammer-thrower-parker-in-us-olympic-trials-finals/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |work=The Utah Statesman |title=Former USU Hammer Thrower Parker In U.S. Olympic Trials Finals |last=}}

= Chiropractic career =

After leaving the military, Parker attended the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon, earning a doctorate in chiropractic practice. In 2011, he opened a private practice in Davis County, Utah.{{Cite web |title=James Daniel Parker Obituary 2023 |url=https://www.lindquistmortuary.com/obituaries/james-parker |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Lindquist Mortuary |language=en}}

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.

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.{{Cite web |last=Steinbrecher |first=Lauren |date=2023-08-26 |title=Family of late Utah Olympic athlete and Paralympic coach feeling support from around the world |url=https://ksltv.com/581346/family-of-late-utah-olympic-athlete-and-paralympic-coach-feeling-support-from-around-the-world/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=KSLTV.com |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Cabrero |first=Alex |date=2021-08-08 |title=Kaysville Chiropractor Helps Athletes On US Track And Field Team In Tokyo |url=https://ksltv.com/470247/kaysville-chiropractor-helps-athletes-on-us-track-and-field-team-in-tokyo/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=KSLTV.com |language=en-us}}

= Death =

Parker died on August 19, 2023, at age 47 from a heart attack while hiking near Huntsville, Utah.{{cite web |title=James Parker |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/105563 |website=Olympedia |access-date=23 August 2023}}

Competition record

{{AchievementTable\|Event=yes}}
colspan="6"\|Representing the {{flagu\|United States}}
2001 \|Universiade \|Beijing, China \| – \|Hammer throw \|NM
2003 \|Pan American Games \|Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic \|bgcolor=silver\|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

colspan="6"|Representing the {{flagu|United States}}

2001

|Universiade

|Beijing, China

| –

|Hammer throw

|NM

2003

|Pan American Games

|Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

|bgcolor=silver|2nd

|Hammer throw