Here We Go Again!

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

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!!!

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

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!

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

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

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

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.

B

Upcoming Meets

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

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

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

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!!!