Tom Pukstys

Infobox Person
name = Tom Pukstys

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birth_date = May 28, 1968
birth_place = Chicago, Illinois
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education = University of Florida
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Tom Pukstys (born May 28, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) - the grand old man of American javelin throwing and top U.S. javelin thrower for nearly a decade (retired in 2004). Competed on European track / field circut for 10 years sponsored by adidas; represented the United States at two consecutive Summer Olympics (1992 and 1996). A six-time U.S. champion and two-time top 10 world ranked javelin athlete...his personal best is 87.12, thrown in 1997.

Pukstys' parents came to the U.S. from Lithuania in 1949. Tom's oldest brother Andrew, a former track/field athlete attending medical school in Vilnius, LT, introduced Tom to the sport by bringing home a javelin from Lithuania. Tom fell in love with the sport, throwing 155-feet in his first meet. Pukstys quit baseball and went out for track, throwing 58-1 (shot) and 178-8 (discus) in high school. Since Illinois does not include the javelin in its high school meets, he practiced on his own. He threw an American Junior Record 234-1, then trained with John Kennison at Florida...broke his first American record in June 1993. Has a public relations degree from The University of Florida and lives in Illinois.

Achievements

References

* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldBios/2005/Pukstys_Tom.asp Profile]