One admitted to nerves, the other wasn’t fazed at all and the last thought he wasn’t going to make it.
Either way you slice it, shot putters Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell and Adam Nelson, in that order, are headed to Beijing.
The trio hold eight of the top nine throws in the world this year, making a 1-2-3 sweep in the Olympics a possibility, but not a guarantee. Nelson went so far as to call them “three of the best throwers in the history of the sport.” No three athletes from one country have ever swept the men’s shot put before.
“These are just the prelims,” Cantwell said. “The real show starts in about six weeks.”
Nelson held the leading toss of 68-6.50 after four rounds before Cantwell and Hoffa surpassed him with their next throws. They then added to their first- and second-place finishes by throwing even farther on their sixth and final throws.
Hoffa’s winning toss was 72-6.25, followed by Cantwell’s heave of 71-2.75.
Saturday’s finish meant Nelson will make his third Olympics, Hoffa will compete in his second and Cantwell will make his Olympics debut in mid-August.
Hoffa, known for his celebrations, exited the ring with arms raised high after the then-best throw of 71-11.75 on his fifth attempt. After he locked up his second U.S. outdoor title, he flexed his chalk-covered arms and added a grin.
His outward confidence only came through after some early nerves.
“When people are expecting you to make the team, I guess it gets to you,” he said.
After it was over, Hoffa said he took “a deep breath in relief knowing you probably made one of the hardest teams in the world to make.”
Nelson fouled on his last two throws to make for an uncomfortable final two rounds as he watched two – but not three – more throwers pass him by.
“I’m very fortunate to be on this team,” the two-time Olympic silver medalist said.
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