Reese Hoffa: Shot Put, Adaption, Wife & Net Worth

Legendary American Shot Putter Reese Hoffa mesmerized the world with his putting skills. With a bronze in the Olympics under his belt, Reese climbed to be one of the best shot putters of all times.

With his charismatic plays, Hoffa went to win gold at the 2006 World Indoor Track and Field Championship. Similarly, he bagged another major gold at the 2007 World Outdoor Championship.

Consequently, his 20.95m throw at the Pan Am Games led him to win gold and hold the Pan American shot put record. Reese Hoffa is skillful in both indoor, and outdoor shot put.

Despite being one of the most successful shot putters in the world, Hoffa’s childhood remained challenging.

Moreover, he was adopted at the age of four and had to separate from his brother.

Surprisingly, his love and dedication to sports made his life significantly better.

Quick Facts

Birth name	Maurice Antawn Chism
Full name	Michael Reese Hoffa
Date of birth	October 8, 1977
Age	46 Years Old
Birthplace	Evans, Georgia, U.S.
Religion	Christian
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African-American
Education	Lakeside High School
Birth Mother’s Name	Diana Chism
Adoptive Father’s name	Stephen Hoffa
Adoptive Mother’s name	Cathy Hoffa
Zodiac sign	Libra
Height	5 feet and 11 inches
Weight	147 kg
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Dark Brown
Marital Status	Married
Net Worth	$1million-$3 million
Profession	Shot Putter
Salary	Under Review
Social Media	Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Debut year	1998
Merch	Poster, Fridge Magnet
Last Update	April, 2024

Reese Hoffa: Family and Childhood

Reese Hoffa was born on October 8, 1977, to Diana Chism (birth mother). His birth name is Maurice Antawn Chism.

He went through an especially difficult childhood. Diana birthed his brother at 14 and Reese at 16 years old.

When he was 4 years old, he and his 6-year old brother Lamont were playing with a cigarette lighter. They accidentally started a fire which burned down their old home. 

As a teen mom, Diana undoubtedly faced problems raising two kids without help.

Hence, she used her last resort to send them to St. Thomas – St. Vince Orphanage in Lousiville, Kentucky. Luckily for Reese, Stephen and Cathy Hoffa adopted him at the age of 5. 

However, the shot put legend faced problems adjusting without his brother due to behavior problems.

Nevertheless, the athlete star moved on and tried his best to get used to his new family.

Diana finally met Reese in 2000 when he replied to a post about her long-gone son.

As a result, the mother-son caught up, and he found out it wasn’t because of the fire he was abandoned.

Diana (then married to Alan Watts) declined to discuss Lamont’s situation but said:

“It’s very difficult to become what Reese became. Both had the potential in the first place, but as far as I’m concerned, Reese got what he needed, and Lamont didn’t. But I want him to know how much I loved him and missed him all those years.”

Reese tried to meet his birth mom as much as he can just like his adoptive mom.

Adoptive Parents

Stephen and Cathy Hoffa adopted Reese when he was just 5 years old. Previously a happy couple, Stephen and Cathy have divorced for a while now.

Thereupon the two showed super energetic yet introverted Reese to come forward with his talents. Although he was gifted in sports, he struggled in academics. 

He mentioned in a TEDxUGA talk, “What I got from them were two wonderful parents…They introduced me to sports which dominated my life then and now.”

Despite his talents in sports, his parents continued to encourage him in academics simultaneously.

They occasionally told him to focus more on academics.

However, their constant effort shaped an evidently better future for the shot put star.

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Siblings and Childhood

Lamont separated from Reese at a young age. Hoffa later found out his brother was convicted of a controlled substance.

Regardless of his difficult separation from his brother, his adoptive parents gave him a happy family.

Cathay and Stephen introduced him to three sisters and a brother.  During his childhood, his mother claimed he was a quiet and mannerly child.

His hard work and dedication evidently earned him athletic achievements. He remarked he liked to please in order not to be abandoned like before.

Reese Hoffa: Body Measurements

Reese Hoffa is a massive player. He weighs around 150kg with his extremely heavy-crafted diet. He stands over 5 feet and 11 inches.

As a bodybuilder and an athlete, he indeed requires his fit body that he has maintained undoubtedly.

Reese Hoffa: Education

Reese Hoffa graduated from Lakeside Evans High School, Augusta, in the year 1997.

Following his graduation, he aimed for a sports scholarship at the University of Georgia.

Reese successfully graduated from the University of Georgia in the class of 2001. He attended Georgia Massage School, thus receiving a degree in massage in 2017. 

Reese Hoffa: Personal Life

Not limiting the legend to shot put, he excels in Rubik cube solving. Reese Hoffa currently resides in Athens, Georgia, with his wife and his daughter.

Despite his struggles with familial relationships in the past, Hoffa became an ideal husband and father. 

Reese Hoffa birthed daughter Piper Jean Hoffa on December 13, 2019. He commemorated in a heartfelt Instagram post captioning:

“Today is a great day to be a daddy.”

He seemingly loves his daughter unconditionally.

He said that “I’m spending a lot of time with my daughter. She’s five months old, so I look at it as a good time for me because I don’t have to worry about work and all that — I just get to spend tons of time with her.”

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Reese Hoffa: Wife

Reese Hoffa married his wife Renata Jean Forest on November 26, 2005. Renata also graduated from the University of Georgia, identically to Reese.

All in all, they are living happily even after 16 years. They welcomed their daughter Piper Jean after 14 years of an amazing marriage. 

Through thick and thin, Renata supported Reese in his venture of a massage shop after becoming a coach. Upon his graduation, he thanked his wife for her constant support.

His wife was by his side when he won a silver medal at Indoor Grand Prix on Valentine’s Day.

Reese Hoffa: Career

Reese Hoffa, much like any other athlete, started young. He was not bright academically, but he stood out in every sport during high school. He decided to pursue Shot Put ultimately.

In order to excel at shot put, he was first coached by David Makovic. The coach taught him the basic rotational techniques that helped him build a steady foundation. 

After he graduated from the University of Georgia, he received life-changing coaching from Don Babbit.

Similarly, the legendary coach instilled confidence in his basic techniques.

In respect of his coach, the player remarked confidently: “He [Don Babbit] gave me the idea that eventually I could be an Olympian.”

His couch made him more confident in his talented yet rough skills. Reese did not stumble while playing at his University.

Rather, he went on to receive the All-American honor four times consecutively. 

Reese Hoffa, first of all, made his official debut in the shot put in Blacksburg, Virginia, with just 18.82m. Though a small feat, he returned to the same venue two years later and surprisingly threw 19.52m. 

As a huge wrestling fan, he competed in the Home Depot Invitational, wearing a mask. Accordingly, he named himself the “Unknown Shot Putter.” 

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Reese Hoffa got his first national breakthrough when he was competing for Pan American Games in 2003.

Regardless of C.J. Hunter’s previously made record, he broke it by a 20.95m mark. By 2007, he passed the 70-feet mark at least 10 times. 

International Career

Following a series of national wins, he got his major international recognition at the 2009 World Championships. The mega player’s throws became significantly better.

On the world stage, he became the defending champion at Eugene.

Similarly, he won the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships and 2007 IAAF World Championships.

Hoffa met the Olympic stage in 2004 and 2008, but he did not win. Nevertheless, he did not lose hope.

He mentioned: “It’s not always about winning medals. You have to give credit to all the hard work that goes behind competing.”

After that, Reese Hoffa made his name at the 2012 London Olympics with a 21.23m throw, he won bronze at the Grand Olympic stage.

He finally got a medal at the Olympics. However, his medal got stolen. 

As a consistent player, Hoffa finished in the top 5 of the USA Outdoor Championship for 9 consecutive years.

Next, the shot put legend similarly won the 2012 Diamond League title with ease. Till today, his best throw is at 22.43m. 

Coaching Career

Reese believes in imparting his knowledge and skill to the younger generation and inspire them to be a good athlete. That is why he opened Hoffa Throws Academy.

While he retired from competition in 2016, he remained active in the shot put by coaching. 

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He organizes several camps to enrich young athletes in their basic skills. The shot put monster got the idea of coaching as an exit strategy for retiring.

He found coaching to be fun, so he continued with it.

Massage Career

Unlike a full-time coach, Reese did not spend the whole day coaching. In fact, he needed something else to fill his day. So, he opted to go to massage school.

So, he chose to go to a massage school. 

He graduated from Georgia Massage School in 2017. Soon after, upon his wife’s suggestion, he decided to open a massage center.

Reese currently works as a massage therapist at Hoffa Massage Centre. 

Reese Hoffa: Net Worth

Hoffa’s salary comes from his coaching. Also, he owns a massage center.

Shot put legend’s net worth comes down to $1 to $3 million. 

His mix of business and sports career gives him a hefty sum to add to his net worth.

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Reese Hoffa: Social Media

Reese Hoffa becomes mostly active on his Instagram, and he posts about his family and works often.

Currently, he has over 10k followers.

Similarly, he opened a Facebook page for his coaching center Hoffa Throw Academy. Moreover, he also has a Twitter account with over 6k followers.

Reese Hoffa also spoke on TedxUGA on “Success is in the Process.” He has been celebrated as a wonderful public speaker with a spark of humor as well. 

Trivia on Hoffa

1. Reese’s Olympic bronze medal got stolen from his manager’s car. 
2. Unlike his serious athlete persona, Reese is a humorous guy who has a knack for public speaking.
3. Reese Hoffa surprisingly excels in a lot of sports, including weightlifting, hammer throws, discus, and even Rubik cube solving. 

FAQs

1. Where did Reese Hoffa graduate from?

Reese Hoffa graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in health and physical education. 

2. Did Reese Hoffa win the Olympics?

Yes, Reese Hoffa won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. 

3. Is Reese Hoffa married?

Yes. Reese Hoffa married his wife Renata Hoffa in 2005.