View source for Adam Setliff

{{Short description|American discus thrower (born 1969)}}
'''Adam Setliff''' (born December 15, 1969) is an American former [[discus throw]]er who represented his native country at two consecutive [[Summer Olympics]] (1996 and 2000), finishing 12th and 5th respectively. Born in [[El Dorado, Arkansas]], he set his personal best (69.44 m) in the men's discus throw on July 21, 2001, at a meet in [[La Jolla, California]].

Setliff grew up in [[Big Horn, Wyoming]],<ref name="spin">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-08-sp-20495-story.html|title=Setliff Went Looking for a Different Spin|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=John|last=Ortega|date=August 8, 1997|access-date=November 16, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241116211544/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-08-sp-20495-story.html|archive-date=November 16, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> where he discovered discus throwing in the sixth grade.<ref name="dedicated">{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920508/1490720/hes-dedicated-to-the-discus----huskies-setliff-making-most-of-second-chance|title=He's Dedicated To The Discus -- Huskies' Setliff Making Most Of Second Chance|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|first=Hugo|last=Kugiya|date=May 8, 1992|access-date=November 16, 2024}}</ref> When he was a sophomore, his father moved the family to [[North Platte, Nebraska]],<ref name=dedicated/> where he attended [[North Platte High School (Nebraska)|North Platte High School]] and placed fourth in discus at the 1986 Class A state championships.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/159181176/|title=Boys State Track Results|work=[[Omaha World-Herald]]|date=May 24, 1986|access-date=November 16, 2024|page=26|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Setliff also played basketball and tennis at North Platte.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/beatrice-daily-sun-timmerman-leads-rally/159181292/|title=Timmerman leads rally as Orangemen top NP|work=Beatrice Daily Sun|date=January 20, 1986|access-date=November 16, 2024|page=4|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub-bearcat-tennis-team-unbeatab/159181477/|title=Bearcat tennis team unbeatable in invite|work=[[Kearney Hub]]|date=September 16, 1985|access-date=November 16, 2024|page=17|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He then moved with his mother to [[Fort Worth, Texas]],<ref name=dedicated/> where he attended [[Eastern Hills High School]] and won the District 6-5A title in discus in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-wyatt-trimble/159182264/|title=Wyatt, Trimble Tech win track titles|first=Roger B.|last=Brown|work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=April 18, 1987|access-date=November 16, 2024|page=45|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Setliff finished at [[L. D. Bell High School]] in [[Hurst, Texas]], his fourth of four high schools.<ref name=dedicated/> As a senior at L. D. Bell in 1988, he won the Class 5A state title in discus and finished as the No.1 prep thrower in the nation, as well as breaking the Texas state record previously held by [[Michael Carter (nose tackle)|Michael Carter]].<ref name=dedicated/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-austin-reagans-to/159183708/|title=Austin Reagan's top 40.0 sets national relay record|work=[[Abilene Reporter-News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 15, 1988|access-date=November 16, 2024|page=30|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Setliff earned a full scholarship to throw at [[Rice University]], though he dropped out after two years.<ref name=dedicated/> He met former Olympic weightlifter [[Mihály Huszka]], who trained him for six months.<ref name=dedicated/> After improving his strength, Setliff contacted [[University of Washington]] head track coach Ken Shannon because "Washington was the only school to have two discus throwers in the (nation's) top 20," and Shannon offered him a scholarship.<ref name=dedicated/> Setliff placed fifth at the [[1993 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|1993 NCAA Outdoor Championships]].<ref name=spin/> However, he left Washington 12 units shy of earning his English degree due to an "overwhelming desire to leave Seattle and never see it again."<ref name="throwback">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-13-sp-20111-story.html|title=He's a Throwback|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Darin|last=Esper|date=September 13, 2000|access-date=November 16, 2024}}</ref>

After college, Setliff trained under Olympic gold medalist [[Mac Wilkins]], and later portrayed Wilkins in the 1998 film ''[[Without Limits]]'', which was his first acting experience.<ref name=spin/><ref name=throwback/> He finished third at the [[1996 United States Olympic trials (track and field)|1996 Olympic Trials]] and second at the [[1998 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|1998 U.S. Championships]] before missing the 1999 season with injuries, during which time he wrote a [[screenplay]].<ref name=throwback/> After returning to action, Setliff had a career best throw of 224' 9" in March 2000 before winning the [[2000 United States Olympic trials (track and field)|2000 Olympic Trials]] in July to qualify for his second Olympics.<ref name=throwback/>

Setliff retired prior to the 2004 season. Currently, he lives in Dallas, Texas and practices real estate law while running a title agency.

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
! colspan="5" | Representing the {{USA}}
|-
| 1997
| [[1997 IAAF Grand Prix Final|IAAF Grand Prix Final]]
| [[Fukuoka, Japan]]
| bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
| 66.12 m
|-
| 2000
| [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
| [[Sydney, Australia]]
| 5th
| [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's discus throw|66.02 m]]
|-
| 2001
| [[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Men's discus throw|World Championships]]
| [[Edmonton, Canada]]
| 5th
| 66.55 m
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2005/Setliff_Adam.asp Adam Setliff] at [[USATF]]
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{Olympics.com|adam-setliff}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{Footer US NC Discus Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2000 Summer Olympics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Setliff, Adam}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male discus throwers]]
[[Category:American male shot putters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:People from Big Horn, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from North Platte, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Rice Owls men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from El Dorado, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Fort Worth, Texas]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Nebraska]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Texas]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Wyoming]]
[[Category:Washington Huskies men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]