Stephanie Brown-Trafton is Olympic Gold Discus Thrower

Meet Stephanie Brown-Trafton, an American Olympic discus thrower.Congratulations to Stephanie Brown-Trafton for capturing the gold medal in the discus at the Beijing Olympics Monday, with a first throw of 64.7m, besting Cuba’s Yarelis Barrios’ throw of 63.64m (silver) and Olena Antonova of Ukraine took the bronze with a throw of 62.59m. She said:“All through college, and even when I was coming up, my first throw has always seemed to be my best throw,” Brown Trafton said. “That was definitely the strategy here tonight. No one else stepped up and I was able to pull off the upset.”Brown-Trafton’s win marks the first time an American woman has won a gold in the discus since Lilian Copeland won the gold at the 1932 Los Angeles Games.

Stephanie Brown-Trafton was born on December 1, 1979 in San Luis Obispo, California. She is 28 years old and stands 6 feet 4 inches tall.
She attended Arroyo Grande High School and went on to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she had a stellar track and field career, as well as being a six time All-American in indoor/outdoor track and field. She graduated in 2003.Stephanie qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics with a second place finish in the discus at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Her first throw is what qualified her - 203-1, on her next five tries she fouled. She placed 11th at Group A during the Athens Olympics.

In 2006, she placed 4th at the USA Outdoors, 4th place at Modesto and 1st place at the USATF Pacific Association Champs. She was ranked #4 in the United States that year as well.In 2007, she placed 5th at the USA Outdoors and was the NACAC champion. She placed 3rd at Maui and that year was ranked #3 in the United States.2008 has been a breakout year for Stephanie. She placed 1st at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, 1st at Salinas, 3rrd at the Reebok Grand Prix and 3rd at the Olympic Trials. She caps this incredible season with a gold medal win in Beijing. Congrats, Stephanie!