Shane Hamman: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Shane Hamman (born June 20, 1972 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a weightlifter, sometimes called the strongest man in America. He was the first American to lift over 900 pounds in the two combined weightlifting events, and since 1997 has won a gold medal at every American Senior National Championship except for 2002. As of 2004 he holds every American weightlifting record in his class.

A wrestler and football player in high school, Hamman grew strong lifting large pallets of produce for his father's fruit market. After two years, he quit football to concentrate on weightlifting and by the age of 18 had broken several teenage records. He trained as a powerlifter after high school, but after seeing the 1996 Summer Olympics, he decided to switch his career to Olympic-style weightlifting.

He competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and finished 10th. In the qualifying for the Olympics, during the 2003 World Championships, on his final lift he single-handedly secured three spots for athletes from the U.S. in the 2004 Summer Olympics where he finished 7th in his weight category, setting a new American record for his total and his clean and jerk.

Aside from his weightlifting prowess, he plays basketball and golf. Despite his 350 pound frame, he can hit a golf ball 350 yards, do a standing back flip, and leap vertically three feet.

Hamman currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.