Gregg Tafralis

Gregory ("Gregg") Louise Tafralis (born April 9, 1958 in San Francisco, California) is a former track and field athlete from the United States, who set the best world year performance in the men's shot put event in 1992. He competed for his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in ninth place.

In the fall of 1989 Tafralis earned a four-year suspension from the sport for competing in then-banned South Africa. He claimed he went to South Africa because his wife would die if she didn't have an operation. The surgery cost $15,000, and he made $20,000 in South Africa. Despite the ban, he was allowed to throw in the indoor nationals in 1990, and returned to full competition by 1992. Tafralis was suspended from the sport once again from 1995 to 1997 on a doping suspension. He returned to competition in 1998.

His personal best throw was 21.98 metres, achieved in May 1988 in Los Gatos. [ [http://hem.bredband.net/athletics/atb-m29.htm World men's all-time best shot put (last updated 2001)] ]

His son Adam, was a college football quartberback for San Jose State University

References

* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldBios/2000/tafralis.html Profile]
* [http://www.olympic-usa.org/13220.htm USA Olympic Team]