James Parker

James Daniel Parker (December 3, 1975 – August 19, 2023) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the hammer throw. 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. Parker grew up in Layton, Utah. 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.

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. In 2001, Parker graduated from Utah State in with degrees in exercise science and human biology. In 2004, he set a personal best in the hammer throw with a throw of , qualifying him for the Olympics. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Parker caught a stomach ailment and failed to make it out of qualifying.

Parker would later rise to become deputy commander of the 380th Expeditionary Services Squadron.

Chiropractic career After leaving the military, Parker attended the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon, earning a doctorate in chiropractic practice.

Death Parker died on August 19, 2023, at age 47 from a heart attack while hiking near Huntsville, Utah.

Competition record