View source for Brian Oldfield

{{short description|American athletics competitor}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name        = Brian Oldfield
| image       =
| caption     =
| nationality = American
| sport       = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| event       = Shot put / discus
| club        = Chicago Track Club
| birth_date  = June 1, 1945
| birth_place = Elgin, Illinois, United States
| death_date  = March 26, 2017 (aged 72)
| death_place = Elgin, Illinois, United States
| height      = 196 cm
| weight      = 125 kg
| medaltemplates=
}}
'''Brian Oldfield''' (June 1, 1945 – March 26, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brianoldfield.com/biography.htm |title=Brian Oldfield - Biography<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-07-10 |archive-date=2018-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502211248/http://brianoldfield.com/biography.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref> was an American athlete and personality of the 1970s and early 1980s. A standout [[shot put]]ter, Oldfield was credited with making the rotational technique popular. With his "Oldfield spin," he set the indoor and outdoor world records in the sport many times. However, due to his status as a [[International Track Association|professional athlete]], and due to the lack of official control of his achievements by athletic authorities<ref>{{cite book|last= McNab|first= Tom|date= 1980|title= The Complete Book of Track and Field|publisher= Exeter Books|page= [https://archive.org/details/completebookoftr0000mcna/page/145 145]|isbn= 0-89673-049-2|url= https://archive.org/details/completebookoftr0000mcna/page/145}}</ref> as well as later [[steroid]]-related investigations,<ref>Cf. see [[Anavar]], [[Primobolan]] and [[Deca-Durabolin]]-related issue in the [https://books.google.com/books?id=RIllp5cx9kIC&q=Oldfield Commission of Inquiry Into the Use of Drugs and Banned Practices Intended to Increase Athletic Performance], 1990, p. 245.</ref> his records were never officially recognized.

==Life and career==
Oldfield was born in [[Elgin, Illinois]], and began his career at [[Middle Tennessee State University]] where he won the [[Ohio Valley Conference]] championship three times. The University recognized his achievements by inducting him into their athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Following graduation, he worked as a teacher until he moved to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], and began training for the [[1972 Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Houde |first=George |date=March 29, 2017 |orig-date=March 29, 2017 |title=Brian Oldfield, larger-than-life shot put champion, dies at 71 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/03/29/brian-oldfield-larger-than-life-shot-put-champion-dies-at-71/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001171022/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/03/29/brian-oldfield-larger-than-life-shot-put-champion-dies-at-71/ |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

Oldfield set his sights on achieving stardom in the shot put as an Olympian. In 1972, he made the United States [[1972 Summer Olympics|Olympic]] team, but finished in sixth place.<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/brian-oldfield-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418080528/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ol/brian-oldfield-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Brian Oldfield |access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref> He bounced back less than a year later by setting his first world record, with a throw of 21.60&nbsp;m (70&nbsp;ft 10½&nbsp;in). However, this record was not official due to his affiliation with [[International Track Association|ITA]] professional track and field.

In 1975, his throw of 22.86&nbsp;m (75&nbsp;ft) set another unofficial world record due to him being a professional, which at that time was not allowed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/11/archives/oldfield-puts-shot-75-feet-world-best-shotput-mark-is-bettered.html|title=Oldfield Puts Shot 75 Feet, World Best|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 May 1975}}</ref> Though unofficial, Oldfield's accomplishment did not go unnoticed. After setting this mark, he had earned a cover spot on ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', and also made an appearance in a 1975 issue of ''[[Playgirl]]''. In his ''Sports Illustrated'' interview, he confidently asserted that he expected to be throwing over 80&nbsp;ft before 1980.  

Oldfield won the British [[AAA Championships]] titles in both the shot put and discus throw at the [[1980 AAA Championships]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref> and in 1984, at age 38, he finally set an official record with a throw of 22.19&nbsp;m (72&nbsp;ft&nbsp;9 in) to set a new American mark. When asked by a commentator how he was able to do it at the event, he responded, "I had a 'throw-gasm.'"<ref>{{YouTube|wWa3cBjPcQA}}</ref>

But Oldfield was perhaps at least as well known for his unconventional persona and on-field antics as he was for his athletic performance. Unusual for track athletes at the time, he wore his hair long in a style he dubbed the "Oldfield Mop" and occasionally sported a beard. Oldfield would sometimes smoke cigarettes in between throws at competitions to show that he could beat anyone, even while smoking. He was known for wearing flamboyant outfits, including [[tie-dye]]d shirts and [[Speedo (suit style)|Speedo]]-style shorts. These stunts served not only to raise Oldfield's profile, but frequently unnerved his opponents. At the 1972 United States Olympic Trials, an opponent was quoted as saying, "I will retire the day that I lose to someone like Brian Oldfield." Not surprising for the man who said in the September 1, 1975 ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' article about him, "When God created man, he wanted him to look like me."

Oldfield competed in the [[World's Strongest Man]] contest in 1978, finishing seventh in a field of ten competitors.<ref>[http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/wsm/history/history10.html The World's Strongest Man<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912194219/http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/wsm/history/history10.html |date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref> He also competed in Scottish [[Highland Games]] in the 1970s.  Utilizing his experience in the shot put, he set many field records in the [[Stone put]]. His career-best throw of 63&nbsp;ft 1&nbsp;in in the light stone, accomplished at 1979 still stands today.<ref name="srthrowing">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S6 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 06 - Throwing |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref>

Oldfield also starred in the 1989 film ''Savage Instinct'', later renamed ''[[They Call Me Macho Woman!]]'' as Mongo, the crazed drug lord. In the film, Oldfield wears a special spiked headgear that his character uses to head-butt people to death. The movie was unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098467/|title = They Call Me Macho Woman! (1989) - IMDb| website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

Near the end of his life, injuries from his time in competition reduced the athlete to walking with a cane and using a wheelchair.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2009/01/28/ex-olympian-coaches-new-breed/|title = Ex-Olympian coaches new breed| website=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=28 January 2009 }}</ref>

===Personal records===
* [[Shot put]] – {{convert|7.3|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|22.86|m|ftin}} (1975) (former world record)
* [[Stone put|Open Stone]] – {{convert|11.4|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|14.15|m|ftin}} (1979) (World Record)<ref name="srthrowing">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S6 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 06 - Throwing |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref>
* [[Stone put|Open Stone]] – {{convert|7.7|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|19.23|m|ftin}} (1979) (World Record)<ref name="srthrowing"/>
* [[Weight over bar]] – {{convert|25.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over {{convert|5.06|m|ftin}} (1979) (Former World Record)

==Death==
Oldfield died on March 26, 2017, at his home in Elgin, aged 71.<ref>[http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170327/news/170328945/ Olympic shot putter from Elgin, IL dies at 71]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{sports links}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130118105758/http://www.brianoldfield.com/ BrianOldfield.com]}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HVjS6kdPjg Brian Oldfield tribute video]

{{Footer WBYP Shot Put Men}}
{{Footer British NC Discus Men}}
{{Footer British NC Shot Put Men}}
{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's shot put}}
{{Footer US NC shot put Men}}
{{Italian Athletics Champions in men's indoor shot put}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oldfield, Brian}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:American male shot putters]]
[[Category:American strength athletes]]
[[Category:American masters athletes]]
[[Category:World record holders in masters athletics]]
[[Category:Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Elgin, Illinois]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Illinois]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]