Edwin Cockrell

Edwin Cockrell has been involved in the disabled sports scene for years. He got his start competing in 1998 at the Disabled Sports USA National Games at George Mason University. His fourth-place finish in the shot put spurred him to continue competing and since then he's added many more honors to his list of accomplishments. 

Cockrell was elected Mayor of New Athens, Ill., in April 1983, at 23 years of age. He served nine and a half years until being elected St. Clair County Board Member in November 1992. He was also named as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America 1985 & 1987, and one of 10 Outstanding Young People of Illinois in 1987 from the Illinois Jaycees Senate. 

Cockrell and his wife Laura have three children, Angela, Andrea and Eddy, and one grandson, Camden.          

Major Achievements:

• 2008: First place, Shot Put - U.S. Paralympic Trials-Track and Field, Tempe, Ariz.
• 2007: Third place, Shot Put - Para Pan American Games
• 2006: Bronze medal, Shot Put - World Indoor Games
• 2006: Eighth place - IPC World Championships
• 2005: Bronze medal, Shot Put - Open European Championships, Espoo, Finland
• 2004: Silver medal, Shot Put - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece   
• 2003: First place - Endeavor Games, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• 2002: First place - Endeavor Games, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• 2002: Silver medal - IPC World Championships, Lille, France
• 2001: First place - Endeavor Games, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• 2000: Gold medal - San Diego Senior Olympics, Chula Vista, Calif.
• 2000: Seventh Place, Shot Put - Paralympic Games, Sydney, Australia
• 1998: Fourth place - IPC World Championships, Birmingham England

Paralympic Experience

• 3-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 silver)
• Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, 6th (Shot Put F44 - Men)
• Paralympic Games Athens 2004, silver (Shot Put F44/46 - Men)
• Paralympic Games Sydney 2000, 7th (Shot Put F44 - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2006 – 8th (Shot Put F44 - Men)
• Years of participation: Shot Put F44 - Men 1998, 2002, 2006
• Medals: 1 (1 silver)
• Silver – 2002 (Shot Put F44 - Men)