Amber Campbell Throws

New Interview!!!

2012-01-17T16:47:00.000-05:00

I have a really exciting opportunity to be a part of the Women's Powerful Athlete's Telesummit tonight at 8pm EST! If you would like to listen in just click on this link: http://ow.ly/8pGen I'll be discussing my preparation leading up to London, nutrition, mental focus, and a host of other topics. This is a free online/phone event designed to inspire younger athletes, educate fans, promote our country’s great women athletes and role models, and steer us all toward success! There is also an option to download and save the interview. I hope to have you all in on the call!

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Happy New Year

2012-01-04T17:10:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and a very Happy New Year! Can you believe 2012 is here already? Did anyone set resolutions? I didn't and usually don't. I have a yearly agenda of things to get done. As I accomplish the tasks on my agenda, I check them off and go on to the next one. I do this because statistically "resolutions" get broken within a month. While an agenda implies something that will be done! A few of this year's agenda items include: winning USATF indoor championships, breaking the world/American weight throw record, and winning the Visa series. (i'll talk about outdoor in a later post)

I'm not sure which indoor meets I'll do this year because none of the Visa meets except for USA's have the weight throw. Even the US Open that used to be the Milrose Games isn't having it. I'll miss competing at The Armory and then heading to Madison Square Garden that night to watch the rest of the meet. As the saying goes, "all good things come to an end." Which ever ones I end up going to, I'll be excited because my implements are flying really good right now! I'm hitting practice bests every week with at least one thing so things are right on track! We compete on Friday the 25th of February for the indoor championship, and its going to be so much fun! I look forward to a great 2012, London here we come!
Looking To London,
Amber

Bronze Baby!!!!

2011-10-25T12:43:00.000-04:00

Its the morning after I've thrown, and all the hoopla has calmed down, but I'm still smiling ear to ear! This wasn't the smoothest competition I've ever had, or even the most consistant, but so far its the sweetest! My first Pan American Championship and I earned a bronze medal, wow! After the competition I was told that this was the first Pan Am medal in my event since 1999, cool huh? I'm so thankful for this medal because this has been a rough year for me. I didn't achieve everything I wanted to, but the journey is far from over. This is a great start to the Olympic year! So for everyone who missed it on ESPN yesterday, my cousin Vanessa recorded it and posted it to facebook, Thanks Cuz!!! Here's the link and I hope it works.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/vanessa.danforth/posts/284526814910962

Thanks for everything, and from here until the Games we'll be "Looking Toward London"!

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Hola desde Guadalajara

2011-10-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

A Good Showing from Guadalajara. I am watching a little ESPN3 on the XBox and updating on how Amber did throwing against the other women of the world. In the clip that I recorded she took second place with a great throw. I am a little biased but I think she threw 70 meters but..... the judges gave her 69.93..... I am wondering about calibration of their instruments but that is just the engineer in me. Here are the official results Women's Hammer Throw Finals. Good Job lil Sis!!

Sweat, Tears, and Smiles

2011-08-18T15:39:00.004-04:00

As I enter the last few weeks of prep for the World Champs, I had a chance yesterday to relax a bit and do another one of my favorite things, get my picture taken! My friend Paul, who was a teammate back at Coastal, is now a professional photographer. (http://www.paulscheuerphoto.com/) We met up yesterday for a nice photo shoot, and I had so much fun! Paul had some great ideas and the pictures turned out really cool. Here is my favorite one so far:

Tyra Banks, eat your heart out ha ha ha ha!!! I know I'm usually cheesing in my pics, but I was channeling how much hard work I had to put in to earn the right to wear this USA uniform once again. Its been an uphill battle every step of the way, but I'm still fighting! I have so many amazing people that are praying for me, and cheering me on that even when things get rough and issues arise that I have no control over I can press on. So it turns out that my coach Dr. David Vandergriff won't be able to coach me in Daegu during the championships. It really sucks, and I'm super bummed about it because we've been working really hard to be as successful as possible, and now he won't get to be there to see the hard work pay off. I guess that's all part of life, adapt and overcome right? Anyway, I leave in less than two weeks with just a bit more motivation to do well.

Love and Blessings,

Amber

Philippians 4:13

ONE YEAR OUT

2011-07-27T16:44:00.004-04:00

I'm not sure if you've heard or not, but today we have exactly ONE YEAR until the start of the Olympic Games in London. Can you believe we are this close already? I can't. It doesn't seem like Beijing was that long ago. I guess the old adage is true: Time waits for no man! And speaking of time flying there is only one month until the start of this year's World Championships in South Korea. My last series of meets really made this month pass quickly. The last meet I went to was in Podova, Italy, and I LOVE going to Italy. Its such a pretty country and the bonus of that trip was I won my last competition before I came home. The double bonus was that I was able to spend an afternoon in Venice riding on the canal, taking pictures, and eating gelato!

On a whole different note!

I just wanted to share a bit of my personal life with you all...

Life, in my opinion, is a series of events and milestones that shape and define our lives. If we are lucky, we even get to share it with people we love. This weekend I was able to witness my oldest brother beginning a new life with his wife. It was so wonderful to see their expression of love for each other. It was also the first time in a long while that all of my brothers and I have been together for any reason. This was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time!

Love and Blessings,

Amber

Cork, Ireland

2011-07-02T13:01:00.002-04:00

Let me first say Ireland is beautiful, and the people are super friendly! I'm staying at a great place called Edenhall @ The Village. We have these cute little suite style rooms with private bathrooms (bonus)! The track was located really close to our accommodations, so it was very convenient. A big thank you to all of the staff who made my stay and this event so warm and welcoming! And a special shout out to my girl Tianna Madison for fixing my computer so I can not die from boredom...check out her blog too at: TiannaMadison.com.

The competition today on paper was not at all what I had planned in my head. The original plan was to open up with a solid mark, and then let loose and see just how far I could get my hammer to fly. What happened in reality was a foul on my first throw that was indeed solid at about 68-70m, but the official said I stepped on top of the ring. Ok, I see how this day is going to shape up so being cautious I wasn't as aggressive as I wanted to be. With a few more foot fouls that flew well and safety throws, I finished in second place. But its a good warm up for the meet in Reims, France on Tuesday.

Yesterday on Facebook I posted an inspiring link from womentalksports.com featuring my friend Olympian Shot Putter Michelle Carter. It talked about competing to win, instead of competing to just not lose. About the battle that we as athletes go through between striving toward our best and fighting off self doubt and second guessing ourselves. That article really spoke to me because in a season where I'm building on new and better technique, I've had some inconsistencies. I've had some really good days, and some really bad days, but the key is to stay focused and know that I'm getting better with each new experience. I know that in order to reach Olympic Gold, I have to remain strong and committed to my goal. Everyday and every competition is a new chance to do something I've never done before.

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

It Only Takes One!

2011-06-30T13:18:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday's national championship reinforced one of the things I love most about hammer throwing; one throw is all it takes! That simply means, you could be having the best or worst throws of your life, and it only takes one throw to completely change the outcome. In my case, my very last throw took me from 5th place and NOT making the world team, to 2nd place and making my third World Championship team!!! Now with that said, not making the world team was never even an option in my head. Having known the pain of failure in 2004, when I fouled out of the NCAA championships then turned around and didn't make the Olympic team that same year, and missed the world team in 2007, I was not about to endure that again! But up until that last throw, from the outside looking in, it was a completely different story. I fouled my first attempt, and thats never a good way to start a high level comp. I followed that up with a "safe" 67 and knew I made the final. That should have been the green light in my head to loosen up and let it fly, but that didn't quite happen. My last throw of prelims was a not so flattering 64. So going into finals I was in 4th place. I wasn't worried about it because the finals become a whole new comp so to speak. My fourth round throw I put a bit more "umph" on it and it only comes up a 66. At this point I know I'm running out of opportunities to seal my spot on the team, and I start really thinking about my technique and making sure its going to feel perfect. Well my next throw does feel really good, but as Dave said "you don't get style points" and I went waaaay too slow and dropped it at a meager 63. Dave at this point is not happy with how I'm not stepping up like we know I can and reminded me of some really important things. 1. I've worked too hard and done it the right way. 2. When situations are tough, champions thrive under pressure. 3. And its not going to take a miracle to make the team, just do what I know how to do! With the encouragement of him, my family, and the crowd I stepped into the circle for my final throw and clenched my spot with a throw of 70.07 for 2nd place. Of course I would have loved to win, but that might have been the sweetest feeling 70m throw of my life! Needless to say I definatly had to thank God for giving me the fortitude to dig deep and go for that one. What a day!!!!!

Now I'm sitting in Cork, Ireland preparing for my next adventure in throwing. On Saturday I'll be competing in the Cork City Sports International Athletics Meeting. I'm not sure who is going to be here, but whomever it is, I hope they're ready for a battle. I have some unspent anger I need to unleash. :-) Until next time!

Love and Blessings,

Amber

Lessons Learned

2011-06-03T15:23:00.002-04:00

I've been home for a while now and I've had time to reflect on my Brazilian meet series. While I didn't throw as far in these meets as I've thrown earlier in the season, I learned a lot about myself as an athlete. I'm a creature of habit, but when I'm abroad I can't let that become a distraction. Everyone has to deal with the same delays, time constraints, or annoyances so I just have to deal and get over it. Situations are rarely exactly what I want them to be. Champions adapt and overcome!

This week I reached a new milestone in my life, I turned 30!!!! I had a lot of people tell me that "its all downhill from here" but that's because in my opinion, they're short sighted. I'm just now starting to hit a good stride in my career, and there are quite literally a million things that I still want to accomplish in my life. So while they say its all downhill, I say I'm only beginning to climb the hill!

The 2011 Outdoor National Championships are coming up in Eugene, OR on Saturday June 25th. For those of you who can't make it, they're televising it on Universal from 3p-4:30p EST and on Sunday June 26th from 5p-6p EST on NBC. Good luck to all the athletes as we compete to make the World Championship Team! Daegu, here we come!

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

Word Up from Brazil

2011-05-22T16:16:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to let you know how I did today. I placed 5th again at 68.83m. Felt better than the last meet, so I'm building into my big throw for the big meet on the 26th in Rio. Chasing Yipsi Moreno of Cuba, Jenny Dalgren from Argentina, and Sultan Frizel from Canada...they all beat me at both meets but not by much. I just gotta relax and do me! When I get into the rhythm of my throw, i don't have anything to worry about cuz I know its going to fly. I just have to do what I do.

Thanks to everybody for their support. I'm having a great time, and gaining some invaluable experiece. Rio is the big hammer challenge meet and big things are coming! www.cbat.org.br. its in portuguese, but just google translate it on your pc. To see the results. Meet on Tuesday was in Uberlandia, today was Sao Paulo and next meet is in Rio!!!!!

Rio Rio

2011-05-22T12:21:00.002-04:00

Amber's in Rio. Throwing long and strong. We have to work on getting her travel legs under her. Since she is down there competing in 3 meets (1 down placed 5th) she should improve in meets 2 and 3. Good Luck Amber.

Daegu

2011-05-12T08:55:00.000-04:00

Well this was certainly an interesting trip. I arrived on Monday night excited about the upcoming week because this was the first overseas meet of the year. Not only that, but it was the World Championships Preview for this coming August. I had a good training session on Tuesday where I took about a dozen throws so I could get my legs under me, and it went well. The field wasn't marked so I'm not exactly sure where they were landing, but the rhythm of the throw felt good. Wednesday was a rest day, and I was hoping to get in some shopping so I could see some of the city and stretch my legs but it rained heavy the whole day so I read a book instead. I woke up this morning pumped up and looking forward to big stuff popping off in this competition. We took our two warm-up throws in order of how we would compete, and off we went. I stepped into the circle for my first throw and let it fly...at least I thought so, they marked it at a whopping 65m. It didn't feel that bad, so I knew I had some work to do. My second throw I told myself to relax and let the ball do its work. Which it did, but my feet didn't cooperate and I fouled out of the side of the ring and the sector. The upside of that was the distance was about 70m but it doesn't matter if I don't keep it in. Ok, so I know I need to get this thing moving and I take my time to make sure my technique is good on my third throw, but I guess I took way too much off and it only went 64m. Last throw, and to my surprise I'm still not sweating the fact that I don't have a respectable mark on the books yet. So I'm smiling to myself knowing that it only takes one good throw to change the outcome of the competition. I step into the ring for my last throw, then let it rip! I knew I tagged that one and when it came up on the screen....67.87 (que sad music) my feelings were so hurt! I guess I didn't realized that my jets were totally not firing today. But that's just the way the cookie crumbled today. I finished in 6th place. I'm going to chalk this one up to experience and look ahead to better days. But not until I make a very special trip to Indianapolis for my best friend's wedding!!!!! If she lets me, I'll post a couple pics of the blessed event. My next meet is in beautiful Brazil! So I will definately have pics to post of that.

On to the next one,
Amber

The Saga Continues

2011-04-27T22:27:00.008-04:00

The weather was nice and I felt it time to go big. This was my second outdoor meet and my first trip to the west coast for the outdoor season. The Mt. SAC relays is always a high energy meet full of elite level athletes. The air was full of excitement and the conditions were right mentally and physically for some long throws. My brother came down from the Bay Area to support TEAM CAMPBELL. I had a good week of practice leading up the event, and I was hoping to put something special together. I was towards the bottom of the flight which put pressure on me to open up with a solid mark, because there was strong competition behind me. I came out the gates with my game face on and popped a respectable 70 meter toss. My next mark was a bit of a whoops, but it still dropped in at 66 meters. The next two rounds I got it together and built on the first round throw with marks of 71 meters. At this point I started to figure out what was lacking in my throw. I thought back to what me and Dave had went over leading up to the meet. It was time to trust in my technique and relax into a good throw. Focusing my mind, I went into my routine, and unleashed a 72 meter bomb. When the dust settled and mark was measured it was a PR of ( 72.59). Video of PR coming soon.

Stayed tuned Friday April 29th I will be in Ashland Ohio for the Ashland Alumni Elite Meet.

I am excited for another competition and I hope to put something good together. This will be my last meet stateside untill nationals. See you at the ring

Peace and Blessings,

Amber

Let The Games Begin!

2011-03-19T09:31:00.005-04:00

Wow, oh wow! The 2011 outdoor season is already here and its off on a good foot! Yesterday I opened up in at the CCU Shamrock Invitational held at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach. Its always a fun meet with great weather, and they named the women's invitational section after me so I had to throw LOL! My series started off a little rocky with a foul, but then my next throw was technically sound at 70.89. Then the ball started moving better and the next throws were 71.29, 71.09, AND 72.08!!!!! The last throw was a foul out of the right sector, but it was moving well too. What made the day more special was that I got to share it with my friends and co-workers from Sports Doctors, Inc. There were even two other Olympians who competed in the meet, Bershawn "Batman" Jackson and Zola Bud Pieterse. Good luck to CCU and the other teams that are competing today in the last day of the meet. So thanks to everyone who came out to support and have some fun. My next meet will be the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, CA next month. That meet will have some of the top ranked women in North America representing and dropping bombs!
Love and Blessings,
Amber

Indoor Season is almost wrapped up

2011-02-27T11:56:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Amber put the cap on a great indoor season with her 5th Indoor Championship title. She has been the Indoor Champ for the last 5 years. While this season has been difficult off of the field she has certainly made sure that she "airs" out her grievences on the field. She took first at the Millrose Games in NYC in January with a throw of 24.10 m (79'1" for those not on the metric system). And in the Indoor Championship she walked away with a throw of 24.21 m (79'5.25"). You Rock AMBER!!!!
http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=37543#ooid=95czYyMjpQHLfwc14D7T2jMjBhmzdkic

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-03T07:26:00.002-05:00

Should old acquaintances be forgot, and never brought to mind? Of course not! It's a new year and time for new adventures. My first adventure kicks off in two weeks when I travel to Virgina Tech for the first indoor meet of the season. Its been a great fall and I can't wait to see the results of the hard work start to pay off. Working with Youri Sedykh for a week in France and then again for nearly a week last month has been a great experience for my coach and I. We've all learned a lot from each other, so I'm expecting a lot out of this season. But more than anything I'm expecting to have a lot of fun, have a lot of new goals met, and keep pushing toward 2012 with as much fire as I can muster! As you may or may not know, I don't do resolutions, I set goals. So I would love to hear from you what are your goals or resolutions for this year? I wish all of you a blessed, happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Love and Blessings,

Amber

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2010-11-25T20:18:00.003-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
I hope everyone has had a wonderful day, and took the time to be thankful for all you have. I'm so very thankful for being blessed with so many wonderful people in my life. I've experienced things and places that I'd never even contemplated. I was able to visit Senegal, Crete, Italy, spend a week training with the world record holder, and be a part of the DecaNations team in Anncey, France. I was also in ESPN the Magazine, and attended my first red carpet event. (Good times!) Not only that, but my journey is just beginning and I get to experience it with each and everyone of you! As we enter the holiday season I know we're all going to be very busy, so I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how honored I am to do what I love, and share my story with you.
Love and Blessings,
Amber

ESPN

2010-10-08T17:34:00.002-04:00

Its here, its here!!!! What's here? The Body Issue of ESPN the Magazine of course! I know I said it doesn't come out until the 18th, but I was misinformed. Its already on the newsstand. I ran out and grabbed a stack already. There's also a video online that can be found at: http://search.espn.go.com/2010-body-issue/video/6 of course you can watch both videos, but I only make a cameo in the second one. Shooting for the magazine was so much fun. I felt like such a rock star! They flew me in first class, and had a limo waiting for me at the airport. I had accommodations at a hotel overlooking Central Park and it was gorgeous! For the photoshoot, I had a make-up artist, a wardrobe stylist, and a whole production team. I was waiting for the other athletes to get there until I realized the entire day was for me, can we say speechless! I had a blast. It seemed like we took hundreds of pictures, and the end result in the magazine is really cool. I hope y0u all enjoy it. I'll make sure to fill you all in on how the premiere party goes. As always, thank you for sharing this journey with me!
Love and Blessings,
Amber

Season Wrap Up

2010-09-23T14:32:00.003-04:00

Wow, what a year! I've had so much fun and had so many new and wonderful experiences I can hardly believe it. I was able to compete in new countries, was the only American to complete the IAAF World Hammer Challenge, finish with a world top 10 ranking, and win my first Outdoor National Championship Title. My last two meets of the year were probably my favorite two expeirences of the year. After leaving Germany, I spent a week in the little Italian town of Reiti. There wasn't a lot to do outside of training, but it was so pretty and peaceful that I didn't really mind. The town sits in the valley and is surrounded on all sides by very picturesque mountains. (I took some pictures and posted them to my facebook account. I'll put the links at the bottom.) The competition itself was not the most ideal setup for head to head competition. There were ten women in the Saturday competition and we all got 3 throws. But then only 4 advanced to throw on Sunday where they only got 4 more throws. As you may or may not know, you usually get either 4 throws with no final, or 3 throws plus three more throws in the final. Anyway, I took 6th in that comp and didn't compete Sunday. But I had a great time and watched Koji Murofushi of Japan launch the men's world leading throw, and a guy break the world record in the 800m AGAIN! After that I traveled to Paris, France where I trained with the world record holder in the men's hammer throw Youri Sedykh and his daughter Alexia. Alexia was fresh off of winning the very first Youth Olympic Games. We had some great training days and I learned alot. We worked on some concepts that I'm really excited to put into use next year.
My last meet of the year was the DecaNations meet in Anncey, France. I don't even have enough descriptive words to convey how pretty this town is. When I travel to different places I'm always taken aback at the beauty of the architure. So I have some pictures of random buildings as well. I don't know what most of them are, but they just looked really cool to me. Anyway, the meet was awesome and team USA did what we do best and won! I think the score was USA 133, Russia 90, Germany 89. Yea we kicked butt!
On another note...I'll be headed to my first red carpet even on Oct. 12th in NYC! Its the premiere of ESPN the magazine's "Body Issue" that hits a newsstand near you Oct. 18th!!!! I'm super excited to go. Its going to be a star studded event and I can't wait! I'm not sure what I'm wearing, but you all know I love the camera so there will be pictures to follow. Its been a great year, but I know the best is yet to come so stay tuned!

Love and blessing,
Amber

Adventures in Deutschland Part Deux

2010-08-23T10:23:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody! Another good meet today. Almost everybody in the top 10 was here. I ended up in 6th place with a throw of 69 high. Again I had some big throws, but they were out of sector. I had a monster somewhere around 73m so I'm excited that i'm so close to something huge! Anyway, tomorrow will be a rest/relax day as I get to just be a track fan. The rest of the meet goes off tomorrow and its virtually a who's who of track and field. I don't have another meet until the 28th of Aug in Reiti, Italy. So it'll be training and seeing the sites. Love you guys!

Blessings,
Amber

Adventures in Deutschland

2010-08-23T10:21:00.001-04:00

Hey everybody! We just finished throwing and I'm feeling pretty good about it. I finished 3rd behind Katrin Klass of Germany and Marina Marghive(?) from Moldavia . We all went 70+ except mine didn't count cuz they said i foot fouled, which i didn't! So my best throw ended up being a 68+. It was a strange format to begin with. We competed with the men, and instead of it being a great intense atmosphere all the Europeans started playing grab butt with each other. We threw woman, man, woman, man....so it was a bit of a cluster, and super slow! Not that any of that mattered much, just thought you'd want to know the background story. Anyway, I was the third female thrower and started off with a sector foul cuz I floated my right foot at the delivery. Next throw was smooth and fast, but I guess they didn't like it cuz they called it foul! Safety throw 65 cuz I was not going out with a NM, and then last throw was the 68. I felt like it was a little steep cuz it felt "strong" so I knew it wasn't going to be my best but it had good ball movement. I knew when I let it go that I needed to flatten it out though. So unfortunately, that was all the throws we got cuz I felt like I was building something good. On the other hand, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was talking with Katrin afterward and found out the hammer for Berlin is tomorrow, not Sunday. So I'll leave here (Konigs Wusterhausen) and catch a shuttle to the meet hotel in Berlin and just relax until the competition. Its not until 4:30 so I'm not really worried about it. Ok, so now I'm off to shower then eat and stay off my feet. Hopefully, the next hotel will have a wireless connection so I can stay in touch better. Love and blessings,Amber

California Invitational Relays

2010-05-31T12:13:00.001-04:00

California Invitational Relays

Note how close this throw is to the Fence. Girl put a viewing hole in that fence next time!!!

Daegu and Sacramento

2010-05-30T07:54:00.002-04:00

Have I ever mentioned to you all that I love throwing the hammer? I know it might be obvious, but I really do love this event. Its provided me the opportunity to travel to places I never even dreamed of going and to experience different things all over the world. My latest escapades took me first to Daegu, South Korea. That was one of the longest flights I've ever been on in my life! But I flew on Korean Air, and they're customer service is top notch so I was plesantly surprised. When we arrived at the airport we were greeted by translators provided by the meet organizers to direct us to our limo bus with the most comfortable seats I've ever put my behind in! LOL!! Our hotel was a really nice 5 star resort with every amenity you can think of, and I even lucked up on a private room. (most people doubled up) The competition was short sweet and straight to the point in its format. We each took four throws with no finals instead of the usual six. I started off a lot stronger than I did in Dakar and my throws felt better. My best was my third throw at 69.01 for 7th place. I felt a lot better finishing 7th in this competition than in Dakar because everyone was throwing farther. So again I'm encouraged that every time I'm seeing these women that are leading the world, I'm throwing better and better against them so when it comes time for world championships next year and the Olympics in 2012 I fully intend to be in the medal hunt.

Yesterday I competed in the California Relays. It didn't have all of the glitz and glam of the meet in Daegu but I got to see a lot of my friends from the US throws world that I haven't got to see much this year. So that's always a lot of fun. Even more fun is setting a new personal best of 71.94 on my first throw of the meet!!!! Then I followed that up with two more throws of 71.27 and 71.51, so it was hands down my best throws ever! As an icing on the cake runnerspace.com was there with some amazing coverage. If you go to their website and click on the California Invitational Relays you can get a list of the full results including VIDEO! And not just a video, but like five of them so big shout out to runnerspace.com!

My next meet will be Saturday June 5 in Myrtle Beach, SC at Doug Shaw Stadium at 2pm. So if you happen to be in the area stop by and hangout for a good time and some long throws. Or just to wish me a happy 29th birthday, LOL! Love you all!

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

On To The Next One

2010-05-04T19:10:00.003-04:00

Dakar was amazing! I had the chance to go head to head with some of the best women in the world. I didn't throw as far as I had hoped, but the experience I took away was invaluable. I learned what steps I need to take to be successful even when I don't have the most optimal travel conditions. So I'm looking forward to the next trip which happens to be coming up in Daegu, Korea on May 19th. Its a long flight, but I'm looking forward to the competition. Not only do I get another chance to compete overseas, but this is also the site of next years World Championships. As you might be able to tell, I'm pretty excited. This season is shaping up to be one of the best ever.

Until next time, love and blessings!
Amber

*Pics from the trip to follow as soon as I can figure out the easiest way to upload them all*

Shout Out From Senegal!

2010-04-23T15:26:00.003-04:00

Wow, I finally made it! I landed in Dakar, Senegal on the continent of Africa early this morning. I can't believe I'm here! The people have been incredibly friendly and I can't wait to compete tomorrow. I get to battle it out with some of the best hammer throwers in the world tomorrow, and I'm feeling good! There will be plenty of pics to follow so stay tuned!

Updates from the 52nd Annual Mt. SAC Relays

2010-04-18T13:07:00.002-04:00

Saturday was another good day at the office for Amber. In a big field of throwers that were invited from around the country and the world. Amber placed 1st with a throw of 71.04m (233'01") Personal Record. Facing down some serious competition with some hard core competitors: Sultana Frizell, Britney Henry, Eva Orban, Loree Smith, Crystal Smith, Erin Gilreath, Megann Rodhe, and Sharon Ayala.

Good Job Amber and keep Throwin Long, and Throwin Strong.

Springing Into Action

2010-03-25T14:51:00.002-04:00

Hey Everybody!
Spring is officially here and it feels great! The weather's changing, flowers are blooming, and hammers are flying! I had my season opener this past Friday and was pleased with my results. My winning throw came in the second round with a distance of 69.25m. It was so cool, to have my co-workers and some of my friends from Sports Doctors come and watch me compete for the first time.

I'm super excited for a new step in my career. I just found out that I was confirmed for two meets overseas. The first will be April 24 in Dakar, Senegal on the western coast of AFRICA!!!! I've always wanted to visit Africa and now someone is paying my way to go...how blessed am I?!! The second meet will be May 19 in Daegu, Korea the same place the 2011 World Championships will be held. So I get a preview of the venue before I compete there next year. Good stuff!! Until then I'll have a couple of meets stateside next Friday at Duke University, and then April 17 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, CA. I love this time of year, LOL!

Peace and blessings,
Amber

So Happy!

2010-03-10T17:52:00.002-05:00

Well I'm officially off of cloud 9 and putting my nose back on the grind. Its been a couple weeks since the Indoor Championship, and I'm able to finally absorb everything that happened. I'm extremely happy with my performance and had a lot of fun with the competition. Getting to be on ESPN was a real treat! If anyone missed it here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x03giz1q5s&feature=player_embedded

My outdoor season starts next Friday March 19th here in Myrtle Beach at the Shamrock Invitational at Doug Shaw Stadium. The "Amber Campbell Invitational Hammer" will begin at 11am. (Pretty cool huh?) If anyone is in the area I'd love to see you out there to enjoy a fun competition! This is going to be a great year, so here's to long throws!

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Quotes from Indoor Nationals

2010-02-28T14:15:00.002-05:00

Amber Campbell, women's 20lb. weight throw

"This hands down was one of the best series ever. It felt great, the crowd was amazing, the ball was just flying. It felt amazing. (how it felt to open with the her best throw) Fantastic. You can never complain about opening up with your best throw ever. I was trying to focus on the things we have been working on in practice. It was mechanical. I was trying to hit the things that I have been working on, it was very step one, step two, step three. I guess I should do it like that all the time. (on her homecoming) My god parents are here and my uncle, I haven't seen them in years. It really is like coming home."

http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?duid=USATF_2010_02_27_18_11_50

Campbell's monster toss wins women's weight throw

2010-02-28T03:55:00.002-05:00

2008 Olympian and former New Mexico resident Amber Campbell celebrated a happy homecoming by dominating the field in the women's 20-lb. weight throw.

Campbell ended the suspense in the competition on her first throw, which sailed to 24.70 meters/81 feet 0.50 inch, which is the third-farthest throw ever and gave her a fourth consecutive U.S. Indoor title and the lead in the 2010 USATF Women's Indoor Visa Championship Series with 1,213 points.

Campbell's closest pursuer was Loree Smith, who finished as the runner-up with a toss of 21.99m/72-1.75. Three-time U.S. Indoor champ Erin Gilreath was third with a best of 21.92m/71.11.

Indoor Finals Early Report

2010-02-27T21:11:00.001-05:00

At 6:44 PM in Albuquerque Amber recorded a World leading mark of 81' 1/2" in her first Throw.

Go AMBER!!!!!

Away We Go!

2010-02-24T17:11:00.002-05:00

Its finally here! I leave tomorrow for US Indoor Championships! Its being held in Albuquerque, NM at the convention center. After this past weekend's results, I'm really excited for the competition. Adding fuel to my fire, I just found out that I was voted USATF athlete of the week! You can find the full article here: http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?duid=USATF_2010_02_24_13_19_47
I will be defending my Indoor Title for the 4th time and I am really excited about the Great Competition from American's Best Women.
Thanks for being part of the excitement!!!!
Amber

Women's Weight Throw Results U. South Carolina Invitational

2010-02-21T15:10:00.004-05:00

Event 19  Women Weight Throw

=========================================================================

Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals

1 Campbell, Amber              Nike/Mjolnir          24.20m     24.32m

2 Edwards, Monique             Citadel               16.12m     16.31m

3 Radford, Breanna             South Caroli          14.30m     14.25m

4 Green, Emily                 Citadel               14.56m     14.02m

5 Roberts, Stacee              South Caroli          14.00m     13.22m

6 Vuckovich, Katie             South Caroli          14.00m     13.21m

7 Spivy, Amanda                Georgia Sout          13.95m     13.01m

8 Fannon, Megan                Georgia Sout          12.51m     12.24m

9 Johansen, Theresa            Citadel               10.84m     11.90m

10 Thomas, Ashley               Georgia Sout                     11.83m

11 Fuzy, Anna                   Citadel               13.10m     11.43m

12 Herndon, Sarah               Georgia Sout          13.45m     10.39m

13 Clifford, Jallisa            Benedict              10.55m      9.58m

14 Nave, Whitney                Citadel                8.96m      7.35m

-- Nixon, Gabrielle             Benedict              10.65m       FOUL

Campbell's At it again

2010-02-20T13:29:00.001-05:00

Carolina Track and Field To Host Gamecock Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The University of South Carolina track programs will host the Gamecock Indoor Open Saturday, Feb. 20, at the USC Field House on the corner of Marion and Whaley Streets. Field events will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the first running event scheduled to begin at 12 noon.
Two former Olympians will compete Saturday in South Carolina assistant coach Lawrence Johnson and Coastal Carolina volunteer assistant Amber Campbell. Johnson, in his third season at South Carolina, was a two-time Olympian in the pole vault in addition to being a seven-time U.S. national champion, four-time NCAA champion and six-time All-American.
Campbell recently competed for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she was the top American finisher in the women's hammer throw at 222'7 (67.86m). Currently in training for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Campbell is in the midst of attempting to break the American record in the weight throw. With a current personal best of 80'6 ¼ (24.54m) set when she won the 2007 USA Indoor National Championships, Campbell's goal is to reach the American record of 83'10 ¼ (25.56m) held by Brittney Riley. She is coming off a dominating win at the Millrose Games with a 2010 world-leading throw of 79'4 ¾ (24.20m).
In all field events, the women will lead off and will be followed immediately by the men's portion. Women's pole vault will begin the action at 10:30 a.m., with the weight throw and high jump both slated to start at 11 a.m. The shot put is set for 1:30 p.m. The running events will begin with the 55-meter hurdles preliminary round at 12 noon. Other running events include the 55-meter dash, mile run, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run and the 3000-meter run. The 4x400-meter relays are slated to begin at 4:20 p.m. and will be followed by the finals for the 55-meter hurdles and dash.
Saturday's meet will be the final run for the Gamecocks before competing in the SEC Indoor Championships, held Feb. 26-28 in Fayetteville, Ark. The NCAA Indoor Championships will also be held at the Randall Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.

Amber's Result World leading mark of 24.32m!

Good Job Amber!!!

The Saga Continues

2010-01-30T08:38:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!

I know its almost February, but better late than never right?! LOL! 2010 is going to be a very exciting year and things are off to a great start! I opened my indoor season last weekend at Chapel Hill with a throw of 23.42m(76ft10in). I was very happy with that throw and I felt like it was a really solid series. I love throwing at that venue because its so intimate and friendly. That meet was the perfect setup for yesterday's competition in New York. I threw at the 103rd Millrose Games where I set a new meet record of 24.30m(79ft+)! We had a good crowd, that gave us competitors a lot of energy. And a special bonus for me was my brother Donnie was there cheering me on! I love when I get to throw in front of my family. Anyway, this meet is part of the Visa Championships that will conclude at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, NM on February 27, 2010! Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers!

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Check out the start list for the Finals Women Hammer Throw

2009-08-20T15:13:00.002-04:00

22 August 2009 19:30

BIB NAME NAT YEARSTART PERSONAL BEST 2009 BEST

731Anita WLODARCZYK POL 851 77.20 77.20

978Jessica COSBY USA 822 72.21 72.21

202Sultana FRIZELL CAN 843 72.07 72.07

502Clarissa CLARETTI ITA 804 72.46 71.66

432Betty HEIDLER GER 835 76.55 75.83

353Stéphanie FALZON FRA 836 73.40 72.54

973Amber CAMPBELL USA 817 70.61 70.61

368Manuela MONTEBRUN FRA 798 74.66 72.71

231Wenxiu ZHANG CHN 869 74.86 72.72

435Kathrin KLAAS GER 8410 73.75 73.75

810Tatyana LYSENKO RUS 8311 77.80 76.41

879Martina HRASNOVÁ SVK 8312 76.90 76.90

Berlin Bound

2009-08-13T15:43:00.002-04:00

So, I haven't been as diligent with updates as I have been in the past, but I'm back on track(no pun intended)! Well, National Championships went awesome!! I placed 2nd and made my second World Championship team so I'm off to Berlin, Germany. This is the first time the USA has been back to that stadium for an international competition since Jesse Owens was there in the 1936 Olympics! I leave in a couple days and I'm soooooo excited! (can you tell?) LOL! Anyway, I'm looking forward to my best international competition ever! My training has been focused and I feel like I'm in great shape so there should be some exciting results. Not to mention, my roommate while in Germany is 2008 Discus Olympic Champion Stephanie Trafton. Talk about a good sign huh? :-) Preliminary competition will be on Thursday Aug. 20th with finals on the 22nd. For results you can log onto either USATF.org or UniversalSports.com, and of course I'll be updating on here as soon as I can. Thank you all for all of your kind words and loving support!

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Where did the time go?

2009-06-09T13:55:00.003-04:00

Wow, so much has happened since the last time I got to update that I hardly know where to start. Well, the last meet I said I was going to was Mt. SAC in Walnut, CA. That went great because I set a new personal record at 70.61m(231'8")! That same month I signed an apparel deal with Nike. I'm really excited about that because I've worked for a long time to become a sponsored athlete. My next meet was the Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA. That was by far, the coldest, wettest, rainiest meet I've ever been to. I was fortunate to come out with the win, even though I didn't throw very far. My best mark that day was 67.89m(222'9"). So then, I was able to put in a few weeks of some really good work before heading off to my next meet. The University of Arizona hosted a meet just for throwers called the Tuscon Throwers Elite Meet. It was a pretty cool venue where they played rock music during the competition to keep everybody hyped up. Well appearently it worked because there were four girls who set personal records that day. Sadly, I wasn't one of them but I threw well anyway. My best throw was 69.99m(229'5") for second place. Then I was off to Cuba!!!! (Told you I've been busy!) There were a group of 9 athletes from the USA who went to compete against the Cubans for the first time since 1995. We had a great time, and all came out with good performances. I placed second behind Arasay Thorndike of Cuba at 69.87m(229') and third was the 2004 olympic bronze medalist :-)! And finally, last weekend was the Prefontain Classice in Eugene, Oregon. The meet director did an awesome job of bringing in some great competition for this meet. The 2008 olympic champion was there along with the 2007 world champion, and the Candian national record holder. Well it was a tough competition but a great warm-up for the world championships coming up in August. I placed 5th behind Betty Heidler(World Champ), Sultana Frizel(Candian Record Holder), Jessica Cosby(Olympic trials champ), and Dara Pchelnik of Belarus. The olympic champ placed 7th. And that brings us up to date!!

This season so far has seen some great training and competitions. So I feel like I'm in a great position to do really well at the USA Outdoor Championships coming up on June 28 back in Eugene. This meet will be the qualifying meet to see who makes the World Championship team that goes to Berlin, Germany in August. Wish me luck and send your blessings!

Always,
Amber

Off To A Good Start

2009-03-23T18:42:00.004-04:00

The 2009 season is starting off on the right track (no pun intended). Fridays competition felt great. I was in a good groove and could really feel what was happening on each throw. When I would ask Dr. V what he was seeing in a particular throw, he saw exactly what I felt. So that's very encouraging. Then when I wasn't even expecting it...boom!!! One of the best throws that I've ever had this early in the season. The throw was 69.01m (226'-5") and it felt sooo easy! My chiropractor, Dr. Tony Audino, was able to come see me compete for the first time and shot this video.

My next meet will be the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, CA on April 18th.

Peace and Blessings,

Amber

2009 Season Begins Now!!!!

2009-03-18T18:35:00.002-04:00

Good times are coming! This Friday at 3:00pm at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach, SC I'll be beginning my outdoor season. My hammers have been flying like crazy so I can't wait! I'm hoping to keep the momentum from indoor season flowing into my outdoor season and grab some big numbers early. Its going to be a lot of fun, so if you're in the area and want to watch a good competition come on out! I'll post the results and hopefully a video this weekend. Wish me luck!!!

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

Three Peat!!

2009-03-03T15:13:00.003-05:00

This weekend I won my third straight USA indoor national championship! I was really excited for the competition, and it felt great right from the start. My first throw was one of my best of the season and it just kept rolling from there. The winning throw was 24.43m (80'2") which was short of the world record by about a meter. So all in all it was a great indoor season that ended on a high note. I had the opportunity to compete in front of a great crowd, got to see my family, and enjoy the fruits of my labor! Thanks to everyone for your continued support! I'll be opening up my outdoor season at CCU on March 20th at the Shamrock Invitational. So check back again for those results.

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Nationals Here We Come!

2009-02-25T14:23:00.002-05:00

Indoor season has blew by me! I can't believe the season will be over this weekend. Sunday March 1 will be the AT&T USA Track and Field Indoor Championships! They are being held in Boston, MA at the Reggie Lewis Center. I'm looking forward to a great competition against some of the top women in the US. This will be the first time this season that we will have the chance to go head to head! So I'm really excited to compete because I've been having some of the best practices of my life this week. The work that Dr. V and I are doing is really paying off. My technique feels even better than it did in Beijing so I can't wait to see what kind of numbers get put up. The championships will be televised on ESPN2 from 5-7pm on the 1st. If you don't see the results on ESPN2 of course you can check back here for my take on the competition.

On a side note, its never to early to start preparing for the London 2012 Olympics. So we have a new addition to the site. There is a store where you can purchase Team Campbell t-shirts and sweat shirts! The proceeds will go to assist training and competition expenses. Thanks for your continued support!

Love and Blessings,
Amber

'Tis The Season

2009-01-14T19:15:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

As 2009 rolls in so does a new indoor season. I've opened up on a good note and look to keep going full steam ahead! My first meet of the season was the Virginia Tech Invite in Blacksburg, VA. It was a pretty fun meet for me because I had the opportunity to interact with a lot of young athletes and see some old friends at the same time. I wasn't really expecting big numbers from this competition because it is so early in the season, but that's not exactly how it turned out. I ended up throwing my 20lb. weight 23.73m (77ft10.25in) which is a world leading mark right now. Not only that, but its also farther than I threw last year at the USA Indoor Championships! My friend and former coach Carrie Lane shot video of the competition so here is the winning throw:

My next competition will be the Millrose Games in New York City on January 30. It is a part of the Visa Series that ends with the USA Indoor Championships in Boston on February 28-March 1. So sign up for the automatic emails and when I update the site, you'll be in the loop! Thanks for staying on this crazy ride with me. This season's going to full of fun and excitement!

Peace and Blessings,

Amber

Campbell named Athlete of the Week

2009-01-14T12:57:00.001-05:00

http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?duid=USATF_2009_01_14_07_48_10

Here We Go Again!

2008-10-11T10:58:00.003-04:00

Hey Everybody!! Thanks again for going on this crazy ride that we've been on for some time now, but its not over! As the Olympic fever has died down, I've had time to sit down and reflect on the past season and look forward to the future. Making it to Beijing taught me that hard work, dedication, and commitment to my career and God truly turns dreams into realities. It wasn't always an easy road, but nobody said it would be. So now that the fall training season has began, I've set my sights on defending my Indoor National title and going to the World Championships in Berlin, Germany. My first indoor meet will be in January, but I'm not sure of where or when because I'm still putting together my schedule. I'll be sure to update you all of where all of my competitions will be held and the results. Again, thank you all so much for all the love and support. This season is sure to be another exciting one so check back often for new updates!

Love and Blessings,

Amber

Camera Happy

2008-09-27T13:34:00.003-04:00

Hi All... Sorry for the delay but we went a little camera happy and it took a minute to organize all these pics (I make up for poor photography skills by being a volume shooter). Please let us know if you have any trouble accessing any of the albums or the video.

Training Camp
Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Red Square, Club Bud, Closing Ceremonies
Random Shots

Video of the Event ( You have to move the time bar to 2:17:48 to watch her throw.)

Amazed!!!

2008-08-22T03:18:00.003-04:00

Well everybody, it really happened...I competed in the Olympic Games...WOW!!! It was such an amazing experience. Walking into the stadium for competition was unforgettable. At 10 in the morning it was a packed house! There had to have been 50, 000 people in attendance, and you could tell they were pumped for a good show. The energy in the air was great! The crowd was super into it and would cheer after every throw, during every race, after every jump and I was loving it! My competition started off good with a solid mark of 67.87m. I felt confident that I was going to build from there. My second throw felt great. I thought it was a good throw leaving my hands until I saw where it was headed. It went about 70+ meters and that would have gotten me through to the finals. Unfortunately, it was about 2 meters outside the left sector so it didn't count. My third throw I knew I just had to go for it and give it all I had. Sadly, it also fouled so I didn't advance to the final. I was honestly shocked because I never thought that I wouldn't make it to the finals so I can compete for a medal. After thinking about it and talking it over with Dr. V, I decided that I did all I could do and don't regret anything. I was aggressive and gave it my all. I'm so thankful that I've been able to have this opportunity. I felt like I made the most of my experience and can't wait for next season. I'm more excited than ever because I just got my first taste of what I've been craving for so long and now I'm just more hooked. That's all for now, but check back soon for pictures from my trip in Beijing. Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the continued love and support. Your generosity was was a tremendous blessing to me, my coach, and family.

Love and Blessings,
Amber

Team Campbell reporting from Beijing

2008-08-18T11:32:00.003-04:00

Hi all.
What a way to start my first day in China.. Without a doubt Beijing is the most foreign place that I have ever been but the people have been very nice and supported the US Athletes as they did their own. It has been and will continue to be an amazing experience and I thank Amber for allowing us to tag along on her journey. As Brian (aka Big B) mentioned 21 out of 50 in the world is an amazing accomplishment but also having the best throw ever by an American in the Olympics made Team Campbell proud (Although just seeing her in the USA uniform was enough for me). Her second throw fouled but according to Coach Dave, It was huge and would have secured a spot in the Finals (It only take one). So chalk this one up as a very exiting learning experience and we will build on this in preparation for the 2012 games in London.

So the plans for the week are just to relax, enjoy the rest of the games and see the sites. Anyway until next time over and out from Beijing.

dc

Going Platinum

2008-08-18T11:12:00.002-04:00

Amber's goal of representing the USA in the Olympics in her chosen sport of the Hammer has been achieved. She represented well placing 21st in a field of 50 strong competitors. There is a lot to say about the amount of skill that she has and the effort and determination that has gotten Amber to Beijing. So I want to say thank you to all of you for your support on behalf of Amber. I am sure that she will send out an update to say thanks personally after she is done sampling the Chinese equal to Buffalo Wings.
Thanks From Team Campbell.

You can send Amber emails at ambercampbellthrows@comcast.net

Peace
Brian

Bib number 3145

2008-08-17T17:32:00.003-04:00

That is the number Amber will be wearing. She is throwing in Group B. Loree and Jessica are throwing in Group A.

Team Campbell is on the ground and at the Bird's Nest.

The Athlete list is up for Track and Field

2008-08-17T17:20:00.002-04:00

There are 30 Countries with entrants in the Women's Hammer Throw. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2008/results/ATW054.html#ATW0549

Cut and paste the above line into your browser if you are interested in getting more information. The event starts in a few hours.

Team Campbell on the way

2008-08-16T13:13:00.003-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen be on the look out, Team Campbell is on it's way to Beijing. Mike, Evette and Donnie are all in the air and on their way to China. We pray for safe and smooth flights.

The Women's Hammer Throw Qualifying Rounds are to start at 10:40 AM on 8/18 in Beijing. USA EST will be 10:40 PM 8/17 (Sunday). NBC is supposed to be showing online or on TV. Check WWW.ambercampbellthrows.blogspot.com on Sunday for an update. As more information is made available the site will be updated.

Peace.

Brian

1 Week To Go!

2008-08-11T03:43:00.003-04:00

Seven days from now, I'll be competing in my first Olympic Games! Wow, its been a ton of hard work, but its all about to pay off. I'm leaving tomorrow morning to head back into the athlete's village in Beijing for a couple more training sessions before the qualifying round on the 18Th. This year's games will be one of the most exciting ever! Not just because I'll be participating (well maybe a little) but because every year America's talent gets better and better. I'm predicting there will be a lot of upsets and surprises. You'll just have to make sure you stay glued to the Games so you won't miss a thing! Thanks again for all the support that everybody has been sending to me and my family. We greatly appreciate all the love and prayers. Keep them coming as we are heading into the home stretch. Go USA!

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

Life in training camp

2008-08-08T06:02:00.002-04:00

So I'm here in Dalian, China at our training camp outside of Beijing. I finally have a day off from training and just wanted to fill everybody in on how things are going. My practices since arriving have been great. I'm continuing to work on the things that my coach Dr. V and I have been focusing on since the trials, and I'm gaining distance everyday. The lifting facility that we have to use is pretty rustic and leaves a lot to be desired, but it gets the job done. The hotel where we're staying is a nice beach front getaway that's quiet and lets us focus and be away from all of the commotion of Beijing. Right now the daily schedule is breakfast, throwing practice, lunch, down-time, afternoon training, and dinner. Perfect!! I hope everyone tunes in tonight to opening ceremonies in the "Bird's Nest" which is where I will be competing also. I'll be checking in again soon to keep you all filled in on my last couple weeks leading up to the competition.

Love and Blessings,
Amber

TOUCH DOWN!!!!

2008-08-03T19:24:00.002-04:00

I MADE IT!!!!! I arrived safely in Beijing yesterday afternoon. The plane ride over was surprisingly easy. I was fortunate enough to have the middle row of 4 seats shared with only my friend Loree. So we got to spread out and relax. The Olympic village is really nice. The dinning hall has lots of variety from many different countries and there's even a McDonald's inside! For my first meal I decided not to be adventurous and went for just some grilled chicken, broccoli, and a salad. Well, now I'm off to pack for the training camp at Dalian. We leave sometime today. I guess I should find out when that is, LOL!

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

Today is D-Day

2008-08-01T14:49:00.002-04:00

You know Departure Day for Amber. I just wanted to stop by and say thank you to all of the supporters that have given time, money, and just moral support to Amber and the rest of Team Campbell. Without God and your help the dream would just be a dream. Not a dream coming true. So thanks to all of you. We appreciate it all the help from Amber's fans in Myrtle Beach, Austin, Boston, Indianapolis, Stockton, San Diego, Cincinnati, Bloomfield, Sacramento, Tucumcari, and where ever you maybe.
Do not forget Women's Hammer Throw is on the 18th and 20th of August. Beijing is 12 Hours ahead of the East Coast here in the US.

GO TEAM USA!!!!
GO TEAM CAMPBELL!!!!!!
GO AMBER!!!!!

Wheels Up Aug. 1st

2008-07-29T06:19:00.003-04:00

Hey everybody!!! I'm so happy to finally have the time to actually get on here myself and update you all on everything that's been going on. First off, I just want to sincerely thank you for the immense show of love and support that I've received from everyone. I'm just blown away at how many people I have in my corner wishing me well and praying for my success. At the end of the day, my success is OUR success so again, THANK YOU!!!

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, and let me tell you, it has been some of the most challenging fun I've ever had. Everyday people stop by practice to give me their congratulations and well wishes for the Olympics, so we've had the opportunity to really practice on focusing through distractions. With the Olympics being the largest athletic stage in the world, its good to be able to have some similar experiences before I go. I've had the honor of going before the Mayor of Myrtle Beach and City Council to receive the proclamation of "Amber Campbell Day" (what a trip!), and been on numerous TV interviews and newspaper articles. But when its all said and done, my coach Dr. V reminds me that all this won't matter if we don't stay focused on the task at hand. So I'm really thankful that I have him to keep me on track.

My training has really picked up lately. We're not only throwing a large number of throws daily, but the intensity of the throws is increasing too. Dr. V is instructing me on visualization techniques and its improving my throw almost everyday. By the time the 18th gets here for qualifying day, I'll be excited to see how far my distance has improved. Then on the 20th it will be a true battle for the top spot. I can't wait to be in that fray fighting for the Gold!!!! Stay tuned as we will be giving you updates from Beijing all the way through the games. Love you all!

Peace and Blessings,
Amber

Myrtle Beach honors Amber Campbell with special day

2008-07-23T23:01:00.003-04:00

Friday, Aug. 8 has been designated "Amber Campbell Day" in the city of Myrtle Beach by the City Council in honor of the Coastal Carolina University alumna's athletic accomplishments.
The 27-year-old Campbell will be leaving on Friday, Aug. 1 for participation in the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China, as a member of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team. The hammer throw is her event, and she placed second in the qualifying event July 5. More

Support Team Campbell

2008-07-21T18:23:00.003-04:00

This year has really been a dream come true! I am a 2008 Olympian in the women’s hammer throw. It has been a long journey that began when I graduated from Indianapolis, Indiana’s Pike High School in 1999. From there I received an athletic scholarship to Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As I left for college my Pastor, Rev. Greene told me to keep God first and my goals high. Accepting that advice I began my career as a student athlete. While at Coastal I took full advantage of my situation by becoming as active as I could in the community. I was Vice President of my dormitory community council, President of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, a member of the psychology honor society Psi Chi, and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I also earned 16 individual conference titles, and 5 Division 1 All-American honors.

Upon completing my education and graduating with Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I competed in the 2004 Olympic Trials where I was the bronze medalist. Due to a technical ruling I was not able to be a part of that year’s Olympic team. Despite this set-back, I still had the desire to represent the USA in the 2008 Olympics. So I continued to compete post-collegiately and have had some very good success. In 2005, I was the silver medalist at the Indoor National Championships and then went on to qualify to represent the USA for the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. This year I am the top ranked women’s hammer thrower in the United States. I have the second longest throw, and placed second at this year’s Olympic Trials which qualified me for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Presently I am reaching out to the community to help with some of my expenses. Most athletes at this level have major corporate sponsors such as Nike, Adidas, or other companies. I on the other hand do not. Every expense is mine to bear, and I still have a long road ahead of me. I am responsible for my travel to various competitions throughout the year, training implements and equipment, nutritional supplements, chiropractic care, etc. I am soliciting donations so I can maximize my potential at the Olympic Games. Your support is appreciated and if you want to stay in the loop please subscribe to this Blog and Team Campbell editors keep you in the know. Please contact Donnie Campbell if you encounter any technical difficulties with the "Make a Donation" button or if you have any suggestions for this Blog. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!

Respectfully Yours,
Amber J. Campbell
2008 Olympian

Notice

2008-07-17T17:06:00.002-04:00

If you are a frequent visitor to this site you will notice that there are new pictures up and perhaps the donation button on the left hand side of the screen. I would like to take a moment to address that. Many of you may or may not know that unlike a great deal of Olympic Athletes Amber does not get a full sponsorship ride. She does get a great deal of support from Sports Doctors Inc. and other's from the Myrtle Beach area. She is grateful for that support. The purpose of the donations is to assist in making some purchases of items that she may need for her trip.
* Training Shoes
* Hammer Wires
* Phone Cards for calls back to the USA
* Training Gear

These are things that she will need to purchase that other athletes may not because of their sponsorship situation. For instance I doubt anyone from Nike is going to need shoes....

Thank You all for your Support
Brian

Next Stop Beijing

2008-07-05T19:36:00.001-04:00

Today has been the result of many years of hard work. With a throw of 69.7 meters Amber placed in second bring home the Silver Medal in the Olympic Trials. Amber who is a member of the Mjolnir Throwing club and supported by Sports Doctors Inc. out of Mrytle Beach S.C.

"Speechless. Happy. On Top of the world!!!" Says Amber.

Into the Finals

2008-07-04T13:02:00.003-04:00

Amber has the sixth spot of 12 going into the Women's Hammer Finals on Saturday. 66.77 Meters (219.01 Feet)

Amber Campbell, Flight 2 (Second Place)

"I did really well, got a throw in and made it to Saturday. It felt good to get some good throws in and I am looking forward to the finals."

Look in the links table for Today's Register Guard story.

In Eugene and Ready to Go

2008-07-01T21:48:00.003-04:00

Amber arrived in Eugene Oregon @ 3PM and is checked in with USATF Officials.

She feeling fantastic and full of energy. The Buzz is in the air. Looking forward to competing in front of a sold out crowd.

USATF take the Top 12 throwers from Qualifiers to the Finals. Automatic Qualifier is 68.5 meters to reach Finals.

It is anybody's game out there in Eugene. The top women in the country are out to do there best.

The End of June

2008-06-30T15:49:00.002-04:00

The End of June brings us closer to the Preliminary Throw Day for Women's Hammer Throw. Right now Amber is getting geared up and ready to compete in Eugene, Oregon. Thursday at 7 p.m. PST Amber will be joined by the other top US Women Hammer Throwers to qualify for a spot in the Finals on Saturday. Thanks for signing up and Amber thanks you for your Prayers, Thoughts and Support.

Amber Campbell's Olympic dream

2008-06-27T14:16:00.002-04:00

By Rich ChrampanisPosted: Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 11:12 p.m.

In 2004, Amber Campbell closed out a stellar collegiate career at Coastal Carolina and set her sights on making the US Olympic team in 2004 in the hammer throw. Her bronze medal effort fell a mere six inches short of qualifying for a shot at the Olympics. Campbell has spent the last four years working towards achieving her dream of making the Olympics. Campbell currently owns two national indoor titles and the longest throw in the hammer by a US woman. She will head to Eugene, Oregon next week to compete in the US Olympic trials. Her current long throw of over 70 meters will easily qualify her for this Summer's Olympics in Beijing, China.

Qualifying for the hammer throw is Thursday, July 3rd at 10pm EST with the finals set for Saturday, July 5th at 4:10 pm EST.

Check Link in list for the segment aired last night on Myrtle Beach's WPDE Channel 15 News.

7 Whole Days

2008-06-26T14:51:00.002-04:00

Till it is on. We are all hoping to see great things from Amber next week out in Eugene. AmberCampbellthrows web master will be on the scene and updates and pictures will be done as soon as I can get to a Wi Fi outlet.

9 DAYS TO GO!!!!!

2008-06-24T13:30:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody!! Its been awhile since I've been able to make an update, so let me fill you in on what's been going on. Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, OR was a great meet! We had competitors from Russia, Croatia, and Germany. These ladies gave me a small glimps of what the Olympic competition is going to feel like. Betty Heidler from Germany came away with the win and the 3rd longest throw in the world this year. Ivana Brkljacic(try to pronounce that one) from Croatia placed 2nd and I was third. We had a lot of fun and really got to push each other.

My next meet was at the West Point Military Academy in New York. This meet was a nice tune up leading to the Trials. The past couple weeks had produced some awsome practices so I was really looking forward to seeing some monster throws. Well lets just say, I should have looked at the details of my trip a bit more closely. According to Mapquest the drive from Laguardia Airport to West Point should have taken me about an hour and a half. What I didn't notice is that most of the trip is by 2 lane highway across a mountain. So the drive that should have taken an hour and a half took about three hours after you account for traffic. I had just enough time to get to the competition site, weigh in my hammer, and do my warm-up. Longer story short, I had a couple of wild throws out of sector and finally straightened things out to throw 69.66m. Bethany Heart came away with the win at 69.80m. Krystal Yush placed third at about 65 meters and change.

As of today we only have 9 days until the qualifying round of the hammer at the Olympic Trials. I almost can't believe its already here. It doesn't seem like 4 years have gone by since the last time I've gotten to experience this kind of excitement. I'm so thankful for all the support that I have from my family and friends. I love you all, and we'll keep it going from here!

Good Job Amber

2008-06-08T19:05:00.002-04:00

Showing the USA Ladies how it gets done. Amber placed the top of the US Women in the Prefontaine Classic this weekend. Amber placed 3rd behind two international competitors. More from Amber later.

Training Update!

2008-05-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

These last two weeks have been some of the best and most productive training days I've ever had. I've seen my practice throws increasing in distance to equal my competition lifetime bests. That's exciting for me because I've always thrown farther in meets than I have in practice. I'm looking for my upcoming meets to be the most successful so far. My next competitions will be the Reebok Grand Prix May 31st in NYC followed by the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, OR. Until next time, Peace and Blessings!!!!

Oregon Twilight

2008-05-14T14:50:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I competed in the Oregon Twilight in Eugene, OR. I was excited to compete at Hayward Field because this is the same field where the Olympic Trials will be held in July. The weather was predicted to be cold and windy, but the conditions stayed fairly nice. The ring itself is brand new this season, and is super fast! At the trials, this will be a good thing and will produce far throws. For this particular it took some getting used to. My first throw was a left sector foul. Round two I was focused on getting a safe mark and threw 66.49m. Third throw I really cranked on the hammer and had another foul. So going into the final I was in fifth place (bummer)! Well, I had a little pep talk with myself and got it together for the next round and jumped into second with a throw of 67.23m. My next throw was a little too safe and was not a better throw at 67.16m. I knew my last throw had to be the one so I went for it and it was a monster throw, but sadly it too was a foul. The throw probably would have been a lifetime best, but it doesn't count if you don't keep it in. Unfortunately, Bethany Heart passed me on her last throw to move back into second so I ended the day in third place. My next meet will be May 31st at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, New York.

Penn Relays

2008-04-28T09:08:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, I competed in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA. There were competitors from Canada and Jamaica. I had a lot of fun competing against the other ladies, and came out with a good mark. My throw of 68.00m was good for a second place finish. Here is the listing of the complete results.

1 Bethany Hart USATF OD 68.58 (225-0)
2 Amber Campbell USATF OD 68.00 (223-1)
3 Krystal Yush USATF OD 65.94 (216-4)
4 Keelin Godsey USATF OD 64.91 (212-11)
5 Nikki Grant Jamaica 59.42 (194-11)
6 Amy Parkosewich unattached 58.62 (192-3)
7 Crystal Smith Canada NM

Mt Sac Relays 4/20/08

2008-04-20T20:19:00.000-04:00

Today at the Mt Sac Relays in Walnut California, Amber came very close to besting her PR. With a winning throw of 70.19 meters. Amber reports that she had a better day than she expected.

Good Job Sis.

Upcoming Meets

2008-04-15T10:34:00.000-04:00

Amber will be in action at the Mt. SAC Relays on Sunday April 20, 2008. This is the 50th Running of the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, CA which is just outside Los Angeles. It is sure to be an exciting event. The following Saturday April 26th at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA Amber will be going for a repeat of last year's win. This meet will have a more international flair with athletes from Canada and Jamaica. Check back soon for the results of these Olympic Development events.

New Stadium Record at University of Tennessee

2008-04-11T15:22:00.000-04:00

Amber's throw of 68.48 m is a new meet and stadium record.
Good Day at the office.

Amber Campbell Places 1st in Sea Ray Relays

2008-04-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

1 Campbell, Amber Mjolnir Thro 68.48m 224-08
2 Habazin, Dorotea Virginia Tech 62.87m 206-03
3 Lofton, Ketaruh Unattached 62.72m 205-09
4 Smith, Crystal New York Ath 61.83m 202-10
5 Jatsek, Veronica Ohio State 59.52m 195-03
6 Callan, Kristen Virginia Tech 59.49m 195-02
7 Dickenson, Shanna Tennessee 56.47m 185-03
8 Summers, Jere Louisville 55.87m 183-04
9 Savage, Zenai Louisville 52.91m 173-07
10 Anderson, Bethany Youngstown St. 50.09m 164-04

Amber's Outdoor Meets

2008-04-11T06:48:00.000-04:00

Today at 8:45 AM Amber will be competing in the Sea Ray Relays at the University of Tennessee. She is very confident in how she will compete. According to sources she has had some outstanding practices and will be ready for a "W". We look forward to an update this afternoon. Go Team Campbell!!!