Ken Carpenter (athlete)

Ken Carpenter (actually William Kenneth Carpenter, born April 19, 1913 in Compton, California, † March 15, 1984 in Buena Park, California ) was an American discus thrower and Olympic champion.

After the German Willy Schroeder in 1935 increased the world record to 53.10 meters, Carpenter was in 1936 with 53.08 meters and 51.67 meters in 1937 with annual global Best.

At the Olympic Games in 1936 Carpenter surpassed the fifth attempt at the first Olympic Games, the 50 -meter mark and won with 50.48 meters ahead of his compatriot Gordon Dunn with 49.36 and the Italian Giorgio Oberweger who came to 49.23 meters. Schröder was fifth.

Ken Carpenter was 1.90 m tall and weighed 102 kg in his playing days. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. After the war he worked as a coach and physical education teacher in the college area.