Birthdate: April 20, 1975
Birthplace: Tooele, Utah
Current Residence: Grantsville, Utah
Height: 5-11
Weight: 220
College: Brigham Young '98
Events: Hammer, Shot Put
Coach: Tapio Kuusela

Sydney spot secured

At the 2000 Olympic Trials, Amy Palmer finished second in the hammer throw to earn her first Olympic berth. The result was a marked improvement over the 1999 nationals, where she placed 11th. Prior to turning to the hammer, Palmer was a shot putter. Competing under her maiden name Christiansen, she narrowly missed qualifying for the 1996 Games, placing fifth at that year’s Olympic Trials. Palmer said she was not disappointed by failing to make the team that year because she threw a personal best by almost two feet and did not expect to even get close to making the Olympic team. Palmer is the former American record holder in the hammer. That record has since been surpassed by Dawn Ellerbe, who finished first at the 2000 Olympic Trials. Palmer’s best finish at a national championships prior to 2000 was a second place in 1998.

Support system

Among the sellout crowd of over 23,000 at Sacramento’s State Hornet Stadium on Saturday of the Olympic Trials, were a small group of nine, clad mostly in red. They represented the member of the “Amy Palmer Hammer Club 2000.” To help Palmer along, the group of family and friends, including her husband, Rich, made the trip from their homes in Utah to Sacramento. Most wore the red t-shirts that Rich and Palmer’s sister-in-law had printed before the competition. On the front was a “Amy Palmer Hammer Club 2000” logo. The back read “Throwing it all the way” with the cities “Erda, Utah, “Sacramento, California,” and “Sydney, Australia” listed underneath. Palmer’s father-in-law went one step further, placing a temporary tattoo of Amy’s name on his right arm. The name rested within a heart, with the Olympic rings above. “I don’t know what I would do without them,” Palmer said. “It’s not a personal thing, it’s a group thing.” Some of that group will complete the last leg of their three-part journey in Sydney.

High school sweethearts

Amy and Rich met in high school in their hometown of Grantsville, Utah and started dating their junior year. Both are LDS and following their graduation in 1993, Amy went to Bringham Young University and Rich went on a mission to Tucson, Arizona. While Amy says that the time apart was “not bad” the two rarely spoke, as Rich was only allowed to call home on Christmas and Mother’s Day. They wrote letters often to keep in touch. The couple now lives in Erda, Utah, which is not far from their hometown.

Track career

Palmer began her track career her freshman year in high school at the suggestion of a friend's father. She first competed in shot, discus and javelin. She did not pickup hammer until her junior year in college, when a volunteer coach at BYU, Tapio Kussela, suggested she try it. At the time, the shot put was her main event. Palmer still works with Kussela, who was among those in her cheering section at the Olympic Trials, and drives the short trip to Provo for training.

History

Career Highlights: 2nd at 2000 Olympic Trials; Won 10 State titles in high school; Won WAC shot put indoor and outdoors in '94; Won WAC indoor shot put and WT in '96 and ''95; 2nd in NCAA HT, '98

2000: Placed 2nd at Olympic Trials (217-7)...best of 224-0 PR.

1999: 11th at USA Outdoors (192-3)...best of 220-7.

1998: Won WAC Indoor SP (59-2.25 PR) and WT (66-7.25)…2nd in NCAA Indoor SP (56-8.75), 3rd in WT (68-10 PR)…won WAC HT (206-3), 2nd in SP (55-5.75)…2nd at NCAA HT(208-3), 4th in SP (57-3.5)…2nd at USA Outdoors HT (209-0)…3rd in Commonwealth Games HT (217-7)…ranked #4 in world (#1 U.S.) at HT by T&FN; #6 U.S. in SP...best of 59-2.25 and 220-1, plus 170-3 (DT).

1997: 6th in USA Outdoors SP (55-0.25); no mark in HT qualifying…ranked #9 in U.S. in SP and HT by T&FN...best of 55-0.25 and 203-3.

1996: Won WAC Indoor SP (55-7 PR) and WT (65-9.75 PR)…4th in NCAA Indoor SP (54-11.5); 3rd in weight (61-11.5)…won WAC SP (55-11.25) and HT (185-4 PR)…4th in NCAA SP (55-3.5); 10th in HT (182-10)…5th in Olympic Trials SP (57-7.5 PR); 29th in HT qualifying (158-3)…ranked #7 in U.S. at SP by T&FN...best of 57-7.5 and 185-4.

1995: Won WAC Indoor SP (52-8), WT (53-6.25)…5th in NCAA Indoor SP (52-4)…won WAC SP (52-4), 2nd in HT (163-7 PR)…5th in NCAA SP (53-7.5)…6th in SP at USA Outdoors (51-7.75); 30th in HT qualifying…ranked #6 U.S. in SP by T&FN...best of 53-8.5 and 163-7.

1994: 2nd in WAC Indoor SP (46-2.75)…won WAC SP (49-10)…8th in NCAA SP (50-4.5)…won USA Junior SP (51-3 PR); 10th in DT (133-2); 7th in JT (136-4)…11th in World Junior SP (49-5)...best of 51-3 (SP).

1993: Won Utah HS state titles in SP, DT, and JT...best of 47-4.5.

1992: Best of 44-0 (SP).

Palmer Finds Support in Community, Family
Palmer's A Hit With Kids Down Under