IGCT Episode #228: Adam Nelson- "Effort With Social Good"

Bio

Adam Nelson has been involved with strength and conditioning as an athlete and a coach for almost 30 years. The three sport all-state athlete from Georgia pursued a collegiate athletic career in football and track and field at Dartmouth College. He was the first freshman to ever play varsity football in the Ivy League and one of only a handful to win 7 heptagonal championships in track and field. After graduating Dartmouth in 1997, Adam moved to Palo Alto, California to train for the 2000 Olympic Games.

At the 2000 Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Adam set a new Olympic Trials record in the shot put establishing himself as a favorite for the Sydney Olympic Games. In Sydney Adam won the Silver medal missing out on the gold by less than 3 inches. That loss solidified Adam’s decision to continue training for the 2004 Olympic Games and, ultimately, led to a 12 year career as a professional shot putter. In the following decade Adam continued to lay a path of excellence unmatched in the throws in almost 50 years, not missing a final or finishing lower than 2nd at a major championships until an injured Nelson competed in the 2008 Olympic Games missing out on his first finals. He retired as the only shot putter in history to win an Olympic and World Championship Gold.

In the years since “retiring” from full-time competition Adam has continued to work and train with athletes all over the world across a multitude of sports. He’s run a sports performance facility training athletes of all ages, sizes and shapes in Athens, Ga, worked with NBC and ESPN as an expert analyst of track and field, represent track and field athletes as an agent, and currently serves as the CFO/COO of The D10.

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.
Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.
How he has dealt with adversity and recommendations for your athletes.
How to put your athletes in the right mindset before walking into the weight room.
Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.
His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.