Kibwé Johnson (born July 17, 1981) is an American Olympic track and field athlete who specializes in the hammer throw. He has represented his country at the World Championships in Athletics three times (2007, 2011, and 2015). Competed in the 2012 London Olympics where he made the final and finished 9th. No American had made the final since 1996. Johnson competed in 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

He is a three-time medalist at the Pan American Games, having taken silver in 2007 and improved to the gold in 2011 (where he broke the Games record), and then repeated in 2015 in Toronto. He set his personal best of in 2011. He was the 2011 USA Outdoor Champion in the hammer throw and the 2008 USA Indoor Champion in the weight throw where he recorded the second best mark in US history.

Career Born in San Francisco, he initially started as a discus thrower, before starting to focus more on the hammer while studying at the University of Georgia. Johnson later moved to Moorpark Junior College in Moorpark, California before finishing at Ashland University where he later graduated and represented them in NCAA Division II competitions.Thompson, Glenn (April 2008, Volume 10, Issue 4). Kibwe Johnson Making His Own Way . Long and Strong. Retrieved on 2011-11-02. He competed at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials in both the discus and hammer, placing eighth and 19th respectively.Kibwe Johnson . USATF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02. He placed third in the weight throw at the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and threw a best of at the Oiler Open meet – a distance which ranked him as the third best American and eleventh best ever in the history of the event.Johnson named Athlete of the Week . USATF (2005-06-12). Retrieved on 2011-11-02. A personal record hammer throw of 78.25 m in May saw him rank third nationally that year. He was the runner-up in the weight throw at the 2006 USA Indoors, then finished in fourth place in the hammer throw at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships later that year.

Johnson had his breakthrough season in 2007. He won the discus event at the Mt. SAC Relays then came runner-up in the hammer at the 2007 USA Outdoors. Making his international debut at the 2007 Pan American Games, he had a throw of 73.23 m on his final attempt, which brought him the silver medal behind Canada's James Steacy.Biscayart, Eduardo (2007-07-26). Ennis-London beats Felicien in a thriller – Pan American Games, Day 4 . IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02. Johnson was selected to represent the United States at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, but failed to record a valid throw in the qualifying round. In spite of this he remained positive about the experience and fellow throwers Tore Gustafsson and Koji Murofushi offered him encouragement and technical advice. In 2008 he won the USA Indoors weight throw title – his first win at national level – but he fouled out at the 2008 Olympic Trials later in the season. This frustrating result was the catalyst for his move to train with Dr. Bondarchuk.

After missing much of 2009, he returned to form in 2010 as he finished as runner-up in the hammer at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (throwing 76.31 m). A personal best throw of 80.31 m at the 2011 USA Outdoors saw Johnson take his first ever national outdoor title. As national champion, he gained his second opportunity to compete on the global stage at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, but his best throw of 75.06 m in qualifying was not enough to reach the final. He was also chosen to represent his country at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. At the competition he improved from his silver in 2007 to take the gold medal with a Pan American Games record mark of 79.63 m, improving Lance Deal's record from 1999.Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2011-10-27). Brenes improves to 44.65, Maggi sails 6.94m in Guadalajara - Pan American Games, Day 4 . IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-02.

In the last ten years, Kibwé has won 5 US Championships with 3 runner-up finishes. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing 8th in the men's hammer final. One of the most versatile throwers of all time, he has the unofficial world record for combination of Hammer throw (), Discus (), indoor weight throw ().

2016USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldEugene, Oregon2ndHammer throwUSA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsPortland, Oregon15thWeight throw NM2015USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon1stHammer throwUSA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA5thWeight throw2014USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsHornet Stadium (Sacramento)1stHammer throw2013USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDrake Stadium Des Moines, Iowa5thHammer throw2012USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldEugene, Oregon1stHammer throw2011USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon1stHammer throw2010USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDrake Stadium Des Moines, Iowa2ndHammer throwDécaNation Annecy, France1stHammer throw2009USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon32ndHammer throw NMUSA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA9thWeight throw2008USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldEugene, Oregon12thHammer throw NMUSA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA1stWeight throw2007USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon2ndHammer throw2006USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsIUPUI, Carroll Stadium4thHammer throwUSA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA2ndWeight throw2005USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills13thHammer throwUSA Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsReggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA3rdWeight throw2004USA Olympic Trials Track and FieldCalifornia State University, Sacramento Alex G. Spanos Sports and Recreation Complex19thHammer throw2003USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsStanford University Cobb Track & Angel Field16thHammer throw

Personal life He is coached by former Soviet Olympic champion and coach, Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk. He is married to Crystal Smith Johnson, a former Canadian champion and record holder who also trained with Bondarchuk.Kibwe Johnson . Kamloops Track and Field. Retrieved on 2011-11-02. They have two daughters, born on April 18, 2012, and September 6, 2015. Johnson resides in Bradenton, Florida, where he is a throws coach at IMG Academy.

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