Scott Winkler is an American Paralympic track and field athlete who competes in men's

shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's ...

. Winkler is a United States Army veteran who was paralyzed below the chest in

Tikrit, Iraq Tikrit ( ar, تِكْرِيت ''Tikrīt'' , Syriac: ܬܲܓܪܝܼܬܼ ''Tagrīṯ'') is a city in Iraq, located northwest of Baghdad and southeast of Mosul on the Tigris River. It is the administrative center of the Saladin Governorate. , it had ...

in 2003 after he fell off a truck while holding 50 pounds of ammunition. He won a gold medal and set a new world record mark for class F54 with a throw of 10.23 metres and 1053 points while competing in the men's shot put at the 2007 Para Pan American Games. He also competed for Team USA at the

2008 Summer Paralympics The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games (), the 13th Summer Paralympic Games, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao. It was ...

where he placed fifth in the shot put F55/56 event. The documentary film '' Warrior Champions: From Baghdad to Beijing'' features Winkler's individual story as he trained to try for a berth on the 2008 U.S. Paralympic team. Scott currently still competes in throwing shot put. He also is the shotput and discus coach at Harlem High School in Harlem Georgia. All the while running a successful farm, Winkler Farms.

References

Living people Paralympic track and field athletes of the United States Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Paralympics American male shot putters Year of birth missing (living people) Medalists at the 2007 Parapan American Games Medalists at the 2011 Parapan American Games {{US-shotput-athletics-bio-stub