Parry O'Brien

William Patrick "Parry" O'Brien (January 28, 1932 – April 21, 2007) was an American shot put champion. He competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics where he won two gold medals (1952, 1956) and one silver medal. In his last Olympic competition (1964) he placed fourth. For all of these accomplishments, O'Brien was inducted into the IAAF and U.S. Olympic halls of fame.

Personal life and education Born in Santa Monica, California, Parry was very active in sports at Santa Monica High School, playing end on the football team that won the California state championship in 1948. He was then awarded an athletic scholarship in football to the University of Southern California. He won the (non-standard for high schoolers) 16-pound shot put competition at the 1949 CIF California State Meet. He also finished in third place that year putting the standard 12-pound shot for high schoolers.

O'Brien enrolled in college at U.S.C., where he continued to play football as a freshman until he was kicked in the stomach during practice and injured. He then decided to concentrate on track and field, for the shot put and the discus throw.

In the early 1950s, O'Brien developed a new method for putting the 16-pound shot. The Los Angeles Times described it: When O'Brien began throwing the shot, the standard method was to rock back on one leg, swing the other in front for balance, hop forward and propel the iron ball forward. O'Brien instead began by facing the back of the circle. He then turned 180 degrees, using the spin to generate momentum and help him throw the shot greater distances.

Using this method he was able to break the world record in the shot put 17 times, becoming the first man to put the 16-pound shot more than 60 feet, and winning 116 consecutive meets in the shot put. This method became known as "O'Brien Style" or the "O'Brien Glide". He held the world record from 1953 to 1959. written during the week before the 1956 Summer Olympics, noted "None has been more successful than O'Brien in combining what he calls 'M.A.' (mental attitude) and 'P.A.' (physical aptitude)." He won consecutive gold medals in the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, becoming the first man to retain his Olympic shot put title since Ralph Rose of the United States won the gold medal in 1904 and 1908. During the 1960 Summer Olympics, O'Brien won the silver medal in one of the rare track meets that he did not win.

In 1964, O'Brien was the flag bearer for the American Olympic Team at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

O'Brien entered the National Track and Field Hall of Fame of the United States in 1974. He was chosen for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984, and then the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.