Aretha Thurmond

American discus thrower (born 1976)

Aretha Thurmond

Thurmond at the 2010 Meeting Areva

Personal information
Birth name| Aretha Hill
Born|  (1976-08-14) August 14, 1976 (age 48)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Alma mater| University of Washington
Height| 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight| 107 kg (236 lb)
Sport
Country|  United States
Sport| Athletics
Event| Discus

Medal record

Pan American Games
| 1999 Winnipeg | Discus throw
| 2003 Santo Domingo | Discus throw
| 2011 Guadalajara | Discus throw

Updated on August 14, 2012

Aretha Thurmond, née Hill (born August 14, 1976) is an American discus thrower. Her personal best distance is 65.86 metres (216.1 ft), achieved in March 2004 in Marietta.

Thurmond is a 1994 graduate of Renton High School[1][2] and in 1998 she graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in sociology.[3][4][5]

Thurmond is currently employed with USA Track & Field as the managing director of International Teams.[6]

## College career

[edit]

Thurmond was a member of the track team at the University of Washington 1995–98.She was a discus thrower. During her time she set many collegiate records. Her records include ones in the Pac-10 Conference. She was also a four-time NCAA All-American.[7]

## Personal life

[edit]

She is married to the former University of Washington throws coach, Reedus Thurmond. They have one son together. His name is Theo.[8]

Aretha Thurmond never strayed away from the sport. She resides in Indianapolis with her family. Since she is working for USA Track & Field, Thurmond earned her Executive Masters in Sport Organization Management.[9]

## International competitions

[edit]

Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes

|
|
|
|

Representing the  United States
1996  | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 34th (q)  | 56.04 m
1999  | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada | 1st  | 59.06 m
2003  | Pan American Games | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  | 1st  | 63.30 m
World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 2nd  |
2004  | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 19th (q)  | 58.82 m
World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 3rd  | 63.43 m
2005  | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 3rd  |
2006  | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 5th  |
World Cup | Athens, Greece | 2nd  |
2009  | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 10th  | 59.89 m
2011  | Pan American Games | Guadalajara, Mexico | 2nd  | 59.53 m
2012  | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 25th (q)  | 59.39 m

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Renton grad Aretha Thurmond qualifies for a fourth Olympics". Renton Reporter. July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
2. ^ "RENTON HIGH CENTENNIAL: Going for the gold a fourth time". Renton Reporter. May 6, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
3. ^ "Aretha Thurmond". TeamUSA.org. United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
4. ^ "Aretha Thurmond". USATF.org. USA Track & Field. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
5. ^ "Aretha (Hill) Thurmond". GoHuskies.com. University of Washington. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
6. ^ "USA Track & Field - Aretha Thurmond". Legacy.usatf.org. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
7. ^ "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
8. ^ Mercanator (October 24, 2013). "Aretha Thurmond announces retirement from the sport and starts new career at USA Track & Field..." Paul Merca. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
9. ^ "Episode 105: Aretha Thurmond". Lindsey Hein. February 23, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Aretha D. Thurmond at World Athletics
* Aretha Thurmond athlete profile at legacy.USATF.org (archived)
* Aretha Thurmond staff profile at legacy.USATF.org
* Aretha Thurmond at Team USA (archive March 24, 2023)
* Aretha Hill at Olympics.com
* Aretha Hill-Thurmond at Olympedia

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Pan American Champions in women's discus throw

* 1951:  Ingeborg Mello (ARG)
* 1955:  Ingeborg Pfüller (ARG)
* 1959:  Earlene Brown (USA)
* 1963:  Nancy McCredie (CAN)
* 1967:  Carol Moseke (USA)
* 1971:  Carmen Romero (CUB)
* 1975:  Carmen Romero (CUB)
* 1979:  Carmen Romero (CUB)
* 1983:  Maritza Martén (CUB)
* 1987:  Maritza Martén (CUB)
* 1991:  Bárbara Hechavarría (CUB)
* 1995:  Maritza Martén (CUB)
* 1999:  Aretha Hill (USA)
* 2003:  Aretha Hill (USA)
* 2007:  Yarelys Barrios (CUB)
* 2011:  Yarelys Barrios (CUB)
* 2015:  Denia Caballero (CUB)
* 2019:  Yaime Pérez (CUB)
* 2023:  Izabela Rodrigues (BRA)

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US National Championship winners in women's discus throw

1923–1979
Amateur Athletic Union|

* 1923: Babe Wolbert
* 1924: Roberta Ranck
* 1925: MayBelle Reichardt
* 1926–7: Lillian Copeland
* 1928: MayBelle Reichardt
* 1929: Rena MacDonald
* 1930–1: Evelyn Ferrara
* 1932–3: Ruth Osburn
* 1934: Not held
* 1935: Margaret Wright
* 1936: Helen Stephens
* 1937: Elizabeth Lindsey
* 1938–40: Catherine Fellmeth
* 1941: Stanisława Walasiewicz (POL) *Evelyn Taylor
* 1942: Stanisława Walasiewicz (POL) *Anne Pallo (3)

* 1943: Frances Gorn-Sobczak (POL) * Betty Weaver
* 1944: Hattie Turner
* 1945: Frances Kaszubski (POL) * Hattie Turner
* 1946: Dorothy Dodson
* 1947–48: Frances Kaszubski (POL) * Dorothy Dodson
* 1949: Frances Kaszubski (POL) * Herta Rand
* 1950: Frances Kaszubski (POL) * Amelia Bert
* 1951: Frances Kaszubski (POL) * Janet Dicks
* 1952–3: Janet Dicks
* 1954: Marjorie Larney
* 1955: Alejandrina Ibarra (CUB) * Marjorie Larney
* 1956: Pamela Kurrell
* 1957: Olga Connolly
* 1958–9: Earlene Brown
* 1960: Olga Connolly
* 1961: Earlene Brown
* 1962: Olga Connolly
* 1963: Sharon Shepherd
* 1964: Olga Connolly
* 1965: Lynn Graham
* 1966–7: Carol Moseke
* 1968: Olga Connolly
* 1969–70: Carol Frost
* 1971: Josephine de la Viña (PHI) * Carol Frost
* 1972: Josephine de la Viña (PHI) * Olga Connolly
* 1973: Jean Roberts (AUS) *Monette Driscoll (3)
* 1974: Joan Pavelich (CAN) * Linda Langford
* 1975: Jean Roberts (AUS) *Jan Svendsen
* 1976: Lynne Winbigler
* 1977: Jane Haist (CAN) * Lynne Winbigler
* 1978–9: Lynne Winbigler

1980–1992
The Athletics Congress|

* 1980: Lorna Griffin
* 1981: Leslie Deniz
* 1982: Ria Stalman (NED) * Leslie Deniz
* 1983: Leslie Deniz
* 1984: Ria Stalman (NED) * Carol Cady
* 1985–6: Carol Cady
* 1987: Connie Price
* 1988: Lacy Barnes
* 1989–90: Connie Price
* 1991: Lacy Barnes
* 1992: Connie Price-Smith

1993–present
USA Track & Field|

* 1993–4: Connie Price-Smith
* 1995: Edie Boyer
* 1996: Suzy Powell
* 1997: Lacy Barnes-Mileham
* 1998–2001: Seilala Sua
* 2002: Kris Kuehl
* 2003–4: Aretha Hill
* 2005: Becky Breisch
* 2006: Aretha Thurmond
* 2007: Suzy Powell
* 2008: Aretha Thurmond
* 2009: Stephanie Brown Trafton
* 2010: Becky Breisch
* 2011–2: Stephanie Brown Trafton
* 2013–5: Gia Lewis-Smallwood
* 2016OT: Whitney Ashley
* 2017: Gia Lewis-Smallwood
* 2018–9: Valarie Allman
* 20212020 OT-22: Valarie Allman

Notes|

* OT: Since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials in Olympic years, otherwise held as a discrete event.

* 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

* v
* t
* e

1996 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

1996 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's
track and road
athletes|

* Derrick Adkins
* Brad Barquist
* Keith Brantly
* Bryan Bronson
* Andrzej Chylinski
* Curt Clausen
* Mark Coogan
* Mark Crear
* Mark Croghan
* Calvin Davis
* Marc Davis
* Jon Drummond
* Robert Gary
* Johnny Gray
* Matt Giusto
* Tim Harden
* Alvin Harrison
* Brian Hyde
* Allen James
* Allen Johnson
* Michael Johnson
* Bob Kempainen
* Bob Kennedy
* Michael Marsh
* Anthuan Maybank
* Dan Middleman
* Derek Mills
* Dennis Mitchell
* Tim Montgomery
* Herm Nelson
* José Parrilla
* Jason Pyrah
* Butch Reynolds
* Brandon Rock
* Jason Rouser
* Lamont Smith
* Jim Spivey
* Eugene Swift
* Jeff Williams
* Todd Williams

Men's
field athletes|

* Charles Austin
* Randy Barnes
* Ed Broxterman
* Mike Conley Sr.
* Lance Deal
* Steve Fritz
* John Godina
* Joe Greene
* Kenny Harrison
* Jeff Hartwig
* Robert Howard
* Chris Huffins
* Scott Huffman
* C. J. Hunter
* Lawrence Johnson
* Carl Lewis
* Kevin McMahon
* Dan O'Brien
* Ken Popejoy
* Mike Powell
* Tom Pukstys
* Todd Riech
* Adam Setliff
* Dave Stephens
* Anthony Washington
* Cameron Wright

Women's
track and road
athletes|

* Olga Appell
* Kim Batten
* Tonja Buford-Bailey
* Joetta Clark
* Gail Devers
* Sandra Farmer-Patrick
* Suzy Favor Hamilton
* Kate Fonshell
* Chryste Gaines
* Kim Graham
* Carlette Guidry
* Julie Henner
* Victoria Herazo
* D'Andre Hill
* Vicki Huber
* Regina Jacobs
* Lynn Jennings
* Anne Marie Lauck
* Debbi Lawrence
* Maicel Malone
* Jearl Miles
* Inger Miller
* Joan Nesbit
* Meredith Rainey
* Michelle Rohl
* Amy Rudolph
* Mary Slaney
* Linda Somers
* Jenny Spangler
* Rochelle Stevens
* Lynda Tolbert-Goode
* Gwen Torrence
* Linetta Wilson
* Dannette Young

Women's
field athletes|

* Amy Acuff
* Valeyta Althouse
* Lacy Barnes-Mileham
* Kelly Blair
* Nicole Carroll
* Sharon Hanson
* Aretha Hill
* Sheila Hudson
* Jackie Joyner-Kersee
* Diana Orrange
* Ramona Pagel
* Suzy Powell
* Connie Price-Smith
* Cynthea Rhodes
* Connie Teaberry
* Marieke Veltman
* Tisha Waller
* Erica Wheeler
* Shana Williams

Coaches|

* v
* t
* e

2004 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

2004 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's track
and road athletes|

* Abdihakem Abdirahman
* Bennie Brazell
* Derrick Brew
* Tim Broe
* Dan Browne
* James Carter
* Curt Clausen
* Shawn Crawford
* Alan Culpepper
* Philip Dunn
* Kevin Eastler
* Anthony Famiglietti
* Robert Gary
* Justin Gatlin
* Maurice Greene
* Charlie Gruber
* Otis Harris
* Allen Johnson
* Jonathan Johnson
* Meb Keflezighi
* Daniel Lincoln
* Coby Miller
* John Nunn
* Darvis Patton
* Derrick Peterson
* Jonathon Riley
* Dathan Ritzenhein
* Grant Robison
* Khadevis Robinson
* Andrew Rock
* Duane Ross
* Tim Seaman
* Angelo Taylor
* Terrence Trammell
* Jeremy Wariner
* Alan Webb
* Bernard Williams
* Darold Williamson
* Kelly Willie

Men's field
athletes|

* Kenta Bell
* Bryan Clay
* Walter Davis
* John Godina
* Breaux Greer
* Tora Harris
* Matt Hemingway
* Reese Hoffa
* A. G. Kruger
* Melvin Lister
* Timothy Mack
* Casey Malone
* Derek Miles
* John Moffitt
* Adam Nelson
* Jamie Nieto
* Tom Pappas
* James Parker
* Dwight Phillips
* Jarred Rome
* Toby Stevenson
* Paul Terek
* Ian Waltz

Women's track
and road athletes|

* Hazel Clark
* Jearl Miles Clark
* LaTasha Colander
* Crystal Cox
* Shayne Culpepper
* Colleen De Reuck
* Lashinda Demus
* Gail Devers
* Elva Dryer
* Allyson Felix
* Shalane Flanagan
* Joanna Hayes
* Monique Henderson
* Monique Hennagan
* Sheena Tosta
* Marion Jones
* Deena Kastor
* Muna Lee
* LaShauntea Moore
* Melissa Morrison-Howard
* Kate Tenforde
* Jennifer Rhines
* Sanya Richards-Ross
* Moushaumi Robinson
* Marla Runyan
* Brenda Taylor
* Nicole Teter
* Carrie Tollefson
* DeeDee Trotter
* Teresa Vaill
* Angela Williams
* Lauryn Williams

Women's field
athletes|

* Amy Acuff
* Stephanie Brown
* Shelia Burrell
* Stacy Dragila
* Laura Gerraughty
* Erin Gilreath
* Kristin Heaston
* Aretha Thurmond
* Chaunté Lowe
* Tiombe Hurd
* Jackie Jeschelnig
* Marion Jones
* Kim Kreiner
* Tiffany Lott-Hogan
* Anna Mahon
* Yuliana Pérez
* Michelle Perry
* Rose Richmond
* Jillian Schwartz
* Seilala Sua
* Kellie Suttle
* Grace Upshaw
* Tisha Waller

Coaches|

* v
* t
* e

2008 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

* 2008 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's track
and road athletes|

* Abdi Abdirahman
* Kerron Clement
* Shawn Crawford
* Walter Dix
* Ian Dobson
* Philip Dunn
* Kevin Eastler
* Anthony Famiglietti
* Tyson Gay
* Ryan Hall
* Bershawn Jackson
* Bernard Lagat
* Lopez Lomong
* Leonel Manzano
* Rodney Martin (r)
* Joshua McAdams
* LaShawn Merritt
* Billy Nelson
* David Neville
* David Oliver
* Travis Padgett (r)
* Darvis Patton
* David Payne
* Dathan Ritzenhein
* Galen Rupp
* Brian Sell
* Christian Smith
* Wallace Spearmon
* Nick Symmonds
* Angelo Taylor
* Matt Tegenkamp
* Jorge Torres
* Terrence Trammell
* Jeremy Wariner
* Andrew Wheating
* Reggie Witherspoon (r)

Men's
field athletes|

* Kenta Bell
* Christian Cantwell
* Bryan Clay
* Rafeeq Curry
* Breaux Greer
* Trey Hardee
* Jeff Hartwig
* Mike Hazle
* Reese Hoffa
* Brian Johnson
* Dusty Jonas
* A. G. Kruger
* Casey Malone
* Andra Manson
* Derek Miles
* Adam Nelson
* Tom Pappas
* Miguel Pate
* Trevell Quinley
* Michael Robertson
* Leigh Smith
* Brad Walker
* Ian Waltz
* Jesse Williams
* Aarik Wilson

Women's track
and road athletes|

* Lindsey Anderson
* Jenny Barringer
* Amy Yoder Begley
* Damu Cherry
* Hazel Clark-Riley
* Erin Donohue
* Joanne Dow
* Torri Edwards
* Allyson Felix
* Shalane Flanagan
* Kara Goucher
* Dawn Harper
* Queen Harrison
* Natasha Hastings (r)
* Monique Henderson (r)
* Marshevet Hooker
* Lolo Jones
* Deena Kastor
* Muna Lee
* Mechelle Lewis (r)
* Magdalena Lewy-Boulet
* Jennifer Rhines
* Sanya Richards
* Tiffany Ross-Williams
* Shannon Rowbury
* Blake Russell
* Alice Schmidt
* Nicole Teter
* Sheena Tosta
* DeeDee Trotter
* Anna Willard
* Angela Williams (r)
* Lauryn Williams
* Mary Wineberg
* Christin Wurth-Thomas

Women's
field athletes|

* Amy Acuff
* Erica Bartolina
* April Steiner Bennett
* Jillian Camarena
* Amber Campbell
* Michelle Carter
* Jessica Cosby
* Sharon Day
* Hyleas Fountain
* Kristin Heaston
* Chaunté Howard
* Funmi Jimoh
* Jackie Johnson
* Kim Kreiner
* Shani Marks
* Erica McLain
* Kara Patterson
* Diana Pickler
* Suzy Powell-Roos
* Brittney Reese
* Loree Smith
* Jenn Stuczynski
* Aretha Thurmond
* Stephanie Brown Trafton
* Grace Upshaw

Coaches|

* Bubba Thornton (men's head coach)
* Harvey Glance (men's assistant coach)
* Ron Mann (men's assistant coach)
* Boo Schexnayder (men's assistant coach)
* Criss Somerlot (men's assistant coach)
* Joe Vigil (men's assistant coach)
* Jeanette Bolden (women's head coach)
* Chandra Cheeseborough (women's assistant coach)
* J.J. Clark (women's assistant coach)
* Kim Keenan-Kirkpatrick (women's assistant coach)
* Connie Price-Smith (women's assistant coach)
* Rita Somerlot (women's assistant coach)
* Brooks Johnson (relay coach)
* Orin Richburg (relay coach)

* v
* t
* e

2012 USA Olympic track and field team

Qualification|

2012 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

Men's track
and road athletes|

* Abdihakem Abdirahman
* Kyle Alcorn
* Ryan Bailey
* Trevor Barron
* Donn Cabral
* Matthew Centrowitz Jr.
* Kerron Clement
* Jeff Demps
* Justin Gatlin
* Tyson Gay
* Ryan Hall
* Evan Jager
* Meb Keflezighi
* Trell Kimmons (r)
* Bernard Lagat
* Lopez Lomong
* Joshua Mance (r)
* Leonel Manzano
* Tony McQuay
* Aries Merritt
* LaShawn Merritt
* Manteo Mitchell (r)
* Maurice Mitchell
* Bryshon Nellum
* John Nunn
* Darvis Patton (r)
* Jeff Porter
* Jason Richardson
* Dathan Ritzenhein
* Mike Rodgers (r)
* Khadevis Robinson
* Galen Rupp
* Duane Solomon
* Wallace Spearmon
* Nick Symmonds
* Matt Tegenkamp
* Angelo Taylor
* Michael Tinsley
* Jeremy Wariner
* Andrew Wheating
* Isiah Young

Men's
field athletes|

* Lance Brooks
* Christian Cantwell
* Will Claye
* Ashton Eaton
* Sean Furey
* Marquise Goodwin
* Trey Hardee
* Reese Hoffa
* Cyrus Hostetler
* Kibwé Johnson
* Craig Kinsley
* George Kitchens
* A. G. Kruger
* Erik Kynard
* Derek Miles
* Jamie Nieto
* Jarred Rome
* Jeremy Scott
* Christian Taylor
* Brad Walker
* Ryan Whiting
* Jesse Williams
* Jason Young

Women's track
and road athletes|

* Keshia Baker (r)
* T'erea Brown
* Janet Cherobon-Bawcom
* Emma Coburn
* Kim Conley
* Julie Culley
* Desiree Davila
* Lashinda Demus
* Diamond Dixon (r)
* Allyson Felix
* Shalane Flanagan
* Bridget Franek
* Geena Gall
* Kara Goucher
* Dawn Harper
* Amy Hastings
* Molly Huddle
* Carmelita Jeter
* Lolo Jones
* Shalaya Kipp
* Bianca Knight (r)
* Tianna Madison
* Francena McCorory
* Maria Michta
* Georganne Moline
* Alysia Montaño
* Sanya Richards-Ross
* Shannon Rowbury
* Alice Schmidt
* Jenny Simpson
* Jeneba Tarmoh (r)
* DeeDee Trotter
* Morgan Uceny
* Lisa Uhl
* Kellie Wells
* Lauryn Williams (r)

Women's
field athletes|

* Amy Acuff
* Brigetta Barrett
* Amanda Bingson
* Brittany Borman
* Tia Brooks
* Jillian Camarena-Williams
* Amber Campbell
* Michelle Carter
* Jessica Cosby
* Sharon Day
* Janay DeLoach
* Hyleas Fountain
* Chelsea Hayes
* Becky Holliday
* Lacey Janson
* Gia Lewis-Smallwood
* Chaunté Lowe
* Chantae McMillan
* Kara Patterson
* Brittney Reese
* Amanda Smock
* Jennifer Suhr
* Aretha Thurmond
* Stephanie Brown Trafton
* Rachel Yurkovich

Coaches|

* Tonja Buford-Bailey (women's asst)
* Amy Deem (women's head coach)
* Edrick Floréal (men's asst)
* Jack Hazen (men's asst)
* Mike Holloway (men's asst)
* Rose Monday (women's asst)
* Connie Price-Smith (women's asst)
* Tom Pukstys (men's asst)
* Andrew Valmon (men's head coach)
* Gwen Wentland (women's asst)

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