May 7, 2000
The summer Olympics are less than four months away, and one Utah woman hopes to make Olympic history.
This is the first year that women will compete in the hammer throw.
And a Utah athlete is ranked sixth in world. Shelley Osterloh introduces us to Amy Palmer, who is throwing for the gold.
The windup, the spin and what a throw.
Amy Christiansen Palmer had her best hammer throw ever last weekend at the Philadelphia Penn Relays.
She tossed that 9 pound hammer a whopping 224 feet.
Amy Palmer/Hammer Thrower: "I WAS RANKED NUMBER TEN IN THE WORLD, AND NOW THAT PUTS ME INTO SIXTH, SO ITS MOVED ME UP QUITE A BIT."
SHELLEY: "MOVING RIGHT ALONG."
AMY: "I AM. ITS GOING REALLY GOOD. I'M EXCITED."
Palmer is right on track for September's games in Sydney, Australia.
The Olympic trials are in July, but Amy is ranked 2nd in the U.S., and the top three women will represent America.
Palmer, who is from Grantsville, started throwing discus, javelin and shot put in high school.
She broke all kinds of records as a student at BYU, and eventually started throwing the hammer -- a sport quite new for women.
Amy Palmer/Hammer Thrower: "I LOVE IT, I LOVE HAMMER THROWING."
The sport combines strength, speed and technique. Her coach says Amy has what it takes to be the best.
Topia Kuusela/Hammer Coach: "AMY, FIRST OF ALL, SHE IS A GREAT TALENT. SHE HAS GOOD MEASUREMENTS FOR THE HAMMER THROW AND SHE IS NATURALLY VERY EXPLOSIVE."
Since this is the first year, women's hammer throw will be an Olympic sport, Amy is determined to prove that women deserve to be there. The 25- year old BYU graduate, also wants to be the first woman to win the gold.
Amy Palmer/Hammer Thrower: "I WENT TO THE GOOD WILL GAMES IN NEW YORK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND ENDED UP PLACING 3RD THERE. AND IT WAS BASICALLY COMPETING AGAINST EVERYONE WHO IS GOING TO BE AT THE OLYMPICS. AND SO THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I AM DEFINITELY IN FOR A MEDAL."
Amy lives in Grantsville with her husband. She works as a teacher's aid at an elementary school, trying to earn enough money to support her training and travel.
She'll compete in the Olympic trials in July.
