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2X Olympic Medalist Shot Putter John Godina Retires

BOSTON, MA (Feb. 26, 2009) ‰ÛÒ John Godina, at the age of 36 one of
the most-

decorated throwers in
track-and-field history with nine Olympic and World

Championships medals to his
credit, has announced his retirement.

‰ÛÏFrom the
day-to-day challenges of training to the intensity of competition, I will miss

the rigors
of being an athlete,‰Û said Godina, a four-time World Champion and
two-

time Olympic
medalist.  ‰ÛÏBut I am retiring with
pride and a true sense of satisfaction

with what
I‰Ûªve accomplished. I‰Ûªm happy to have played a large role in the drug-free

revolution
in my events, and I look forward to continuing a heavy involvement in the
sport.‰Û

Godina‰Ûªs
14-year professional career began in 1995 with a gold medal in the shot put

at the World
Championships just months after winning NCAA titles in both the shot

and discus.
He would repeat as World Champion outdoors in 1997 and 2001, also

winning a
World Indoor title in 2001. At the 1996 Olympics, he won a silver medal in

the shot
put, and at the 2000 Olympics earned a bronze
medal.

Also a
two-time US discus champion, Godina in 1996 became the first American in 72

years to
make the US Olympic team in both the shot and discus, and his six

appearances
at the World Championships outdoors ties him for the most by an

American
male.

Twice a
Jesse Owens Award winner as the top male track-and-field athlete in the
US,

Godina was a
pioneer in the crusade against the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
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He plans to
continue his volunteer work with the United States Anti-Doping
Agency.

Godina
recently began coaching throwers, including 2007 US runner-up Dan
Taylor.

Founder of
the Whole Fitness gym and kPilates in Mesa,
Ariz., he and his wife,

Kendra
Jordan, will open a second fitness studio, Karve, in nearby Scottsdale next

month.
Godina has also just opened John Godina‰Ûªs World Throws
Center and John

Godina‰Ûªs
Center for Track and Field, a 13,000-foot training facility in Mesa for elite

athletes in
all areas of the sport.