Shalane Flanagan of the United States won the bronze medal in the women's 10,000 meters Friday night at Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Games, finishing behind winner Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia and silver medalist Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey.
Christian Cantwell was the only U.S. shot-putter to medal, finishing behind gold medalist Tomasz Majewski of Poland who threw 70 feet, 7 inches. Cantwell threw 69-2½, and waited until his final attempt to do it.
Shalane Flanagan (born July 8, 1981 in Boulder, Colorado) is arguably one of the best female distance runners in American history, and currently holds the American record times in the 3000, 5000, and 10000 meter distances.
Flanagan grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts where at Marblehead High School she participated in soccer and swimming in addition to cross country and track. Before matriculating at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, her Marblehead HS accomplishments included three-time All-State cross country performances, a first-place All-State finish in the mile, and a two-mile win whose record still stands; her 4:46 mile won the Indoor National Scholastic Championships. When attending UNC, she won national cross country titles in 2002 and 2003--the first individual champion in the sport in Tar Heel history--and numerous track accolades, with best times of 4:11.24 in 1500m (7th in the US at any level in 2003,) 9:00.22 in the 3000m, and 15:20.54 in the 5000m.
Christian Cantwell (born September 30, 1980 in Jefferson City, Missouri) is a World Champion American shot putter.
Cantwell's personal best throw is 22.54 meters, or 73 ft 11½ in, set in Gresham on June 5, 2004. Hist best outdoor season to date was 2006, in which he had 8 of the 10 longest throws in the year. He was born in Jefferson City, Missouri and attended Eldon High School in Eldon. In 2003, he graduated from the University of Missouri.
