Karl Salb

Karl Salb (born May 19, 1949) is a retired American shot putter. Competing for the University of Kansas he won six successive NCAA Championships, three each Indoors and Outdoors.[1] No other athlete has won more than four. Additionally, he finished fourth at the Olympic Trials in 1968 and sixth in 1972.[2]

He was also the 1971 United States champion.[3]

In an era when there was no money to be made in amateur track and field, Salb was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 14th round of the 1972 NFL draft. The married "Gentle Giant" chose not to pursue the sport and remain an amateur.[4]

While competing for Crossett High School in 1967, Salb set the National High School Record for the shot put at 69' 7"

Salb was inducted into the USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame in 2024.[5]

  1. ^ "Person Details". jayhawks.org. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "USA Track & Field - USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions". Legacy.usatf.org. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  4. ^ "On the beach". Lawrence Journal-World. 22 December 1971. p. 13.
  5. ^ "Introducing the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Class of 2024". 22 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.