Clement Family Gathers Up Medals at Summer Games

Vallyn Bernard

In the 2004 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece 74 countries competed for medals. Only 11 countries went home with more medals than the Clement family won at the Utah Summer Games held recently in Cedar City.

Ben and Collette Clement from Elmo have been taking their five sons to the Summer Games for several years. This year they came home with a family record of 23 medals.

Collette set the standard for her boys this year by winning gold medals in the shot put, javelin, and discus along with getting a bronze for the hammer throw. Ben earned bronze medals in both the javelin and discus. The Clements own their own field equipment, which has been a great expense, but very rewarding since it allows them to spend more time training with their sons.

Colton, 12, competed in the Midget division and took silver in the 1500-meter race walk and discus. In the shot put he won the bronze medal.

Tyrell, 14, in the Youth Division won silver medals in the javelin and discus while adding a bronze medal for shot put.

Jake, 16, threw in the Intermediate Division, won silver medals in the javelin and discus, along with a bronze for the shot put.

Zac, 17, was in the Young Men’s Division, and took home a gold medal in discus, silver in shot put and javelin, and bronze in the hammer throw.

Bruce, 21, competed in the Open Class, winning a gold medal in the discus, and silver medals in shot put, javelin and hammer throw.

By the way, the hammer throw isn’t seeing how far you can chuck a framing hammer. It’s a 16 pound steel ball on the end of a three foot cable with a handle you spin around until you’re ready to launch either the steel ball or your lunch. I thought I might be able to compete in the hammer throw at first, because after smashing my thumb once, I fired my hammer 50 or 60 feet without any effort. The idea of spinning around with a 16 pound steel ball leaves me sitting behind a steel cage watching.

The Clement family has trained hard over the years and represented not only their family but all of Emery County well in the Summer Games.