John Powell

Life and career Powell was born in San Francisco, California, on June 25, 1947. He later moved to Sacramento, where he graduated from Mira Loma High School in 1965. He left the police department to focus on his throwing career.

Powell was a four-time member of the American Olympic Team. Powell finished fourth at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, won a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, He won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Additionally, Powell won the British AAA Championships title three times in the discus throw event at the 1974 AAA Championships, 1976 AAA Championships, 1979 AAA Championships and the 1981 AAA Championships.

Some track and field competitions in 1987 appear to have been Powell's last ones on the international level. Powell ran several annual weight-throwing camps with his fellow Olympian weight throwers. Powell also coached a few of his young champion-level throwers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, nearly every week. Powell also coached the throwers at Stanford University from 1981 to 1990.

In 2019, he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Powell died on August 19, 2022, at the age of 75.

Achievements Fourth with 62.82 in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich First with 62.37 in the 1975 Pan American Games Third with 65.70 in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal Third with 65.46 in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Second with 66.22 in the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome Powell is a seven time US-champion in Discus throw in 1974, 1975, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987