TNT Sports
Nelson proves bargain buy
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Published 07/08/2005 at 09:55 GMT+1
When a medical technology company paid $12,000 (€9,700) for shot puter Adam Nelson's services they couldn't have known he would be such a steal. Nelson won the world title in Helsinki on Saturday with a best of 21.73 metres but at season's start he did no
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"I was still without a sponsor coming into the outdoor season. We needed some money to get through the first half of the year so I decided to put myself up for auction on eBay," Nelson told reporters.
He offered himself for a month of promotional duties and MedivoxRx won the bid.
"I had over 100 bids and over 12,000 hits on the auction site," the 30-year-old said.
"Twelve thousand dollars for a month pays a couple of food bills."
The move paid off and after finishing runner-up at the last two world championships and Olympic Games, Nelson finally claimed his first global title.
On a wet evening, Nelson gave his all in the opening round and held on for the gold ahead of Rutger Smith of the Netherlands.
"After Rutger's last throw I was just completely overcome with emotion," Nelson said.
"I was just trying to hang in there for one big throw at the end. Unfortunately I think my emotions got the better of me. I wasn't able to finish it off as I started, but it doesn't matter."
Nelson said he thought his problems obtaining sponsorship were because of the bad publicity his event sometimes attracted.
"A lot of people have a negative view of the shot put and I understand that because of the chequered past of the shot put," he said.
"But we've got good guys now who are eloquent and smart when they speak," Nelson added. "I think it's time that sponsors should change their minds when they see the support we get internationally."
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