Al Cantello

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAlbert Anthony "Al"•Cantello
Used nameAl•Cantello
Born9 June 1931 in Norristown, Pennsylvania (USA)
Measurements171 cm / 74 kg
AffiliationsUS Marine Corps, (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

The highlight of Al Cantello’s athletics career came in June 1959 at the Compton Invitational when he broke the world javelin record with his all-time best throw of 86.04 (282-3). Cantello also won the AAU title in 1959-60, and won a bronze medal at the 1959 Pan American Games. He was world ranked #4 in both years. Helping to support his family, Cantello worked for two years after high school, but then earned a scholarship to LaSalle University in Philadelphia, graduating in 1955, where he won four consecutive Mid-Atlantic Conference javelin titles, also winning the javelin event three times at the IC4As and the Penn Relays (1953-55).

Cantello became a renowned track coach, coaching for over 50 years at the US Naval Academy (Annapolis), retiring in 2018. He was three times named Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year, and in 2013 inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Coaches Hall of Fame.

Personal Best: JT – 86.04 (282-3) (1959).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Al Cantello
Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) 10

Special Notes