Nick Ponzio

Nicholas James "Nick" Ponzio (born 4 January 1995) is an American-born Italian shot putter.^[1] He competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[2]

Nick Ponzio

Ponzio in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Nicholas James Ponzio
National team	Italy
Born	(1995-01-04) 4 January 1995 (age 30) San Diego, United States
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Shot put
Club	Athletic Club 96 Alperia
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	Shot put outdoor: 21.83 m (2022) Shot put indoor: 21.61 m (2022)
Medal record European Throwing Cup 2025 Nicosia Shot put 2022 Leiria Shot put

Ponzio received an eighteen month competition ban to run from February 2023 to August 2024 for a whereabouts rules violation, although he never tested positive for drug use, he was given the ban for failing to update his whereabouts while competing in Europe.^[3]

Biography

Nick Ponzio obtained Italian citizenship on June 15 and the process for the recognition of eligibility to wear the azzurro jersey, at 27 June 2021, day after he won his first Italian national title was underway.^[4] On 29 June 2021, World Athletics gave him clearance from 15 June to qualify him for 2020 Olympics^[5]

Personal bests

• Shot put: 21.83 m (Leiria, Portugal 13 March 2022)^[1]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Rank	Event	Measure	Notes
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo	Qual	Shot put	20.80 m
2022	European Throwing Cup	Leiria	2nd	Shot put	21.83 m	PB
	World Indoor Championships	Belgrade	7th	Shot put	21.30 m
	World Championships	Eugene	9th	Shot put	20.81 m	[a]
	European Championships	Munich	4th	Shot put	20.98 m

National titles

Ponzio won three national championship at individual senior level.^[6]

• Italian Athletics Championships
  • Shot put: 2021, 2022
• Italian Athletics Indoor Championships
  • Shot put: 2022^[7]

Notes

1. He threw 21.35 (Q) in qualify