Name Lawrence Okoye Spouse Philippa Okoye (m. 2014) Salary 405,000 USD (2013) | Undrafted: 2013 Height 1.97 m Positions Defensive end Roster status: Practice squad Weight 127 kg | |
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Date of birth: (1991-10-06) October 6, 1991 (age 24) Similar People Christian Okoye, Jim Tomsula, Jim Harbaugh, Jack Crawford, Jarryd Hayne | ||
High school: London (UK) Whitgift | ||
Lawrence okoye throwsfest discus 67 63m nr
Lawrence Okoye (born 6 October 1991) is a British track and field athlete and American football defensive tackle who is currently signed to the practice squad of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He is the British record holder in the discus event, and has also played rugby union.
Contents
- Lawrence okoye throwsfest discus 67 63m nr
- Lawrence okoye record breaking discus thrower talks to global sport in colour
- Personal life
- Discus
- 2013 NFL Draft
- San Francisco 49ers
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Jets
- Dallas Cowboys
- Chicago Bears
- Miami Dolphins
- Montreal Alouettes
- References
Lawrence okoye record breaking discus thrower talks to global sport in colour
Personal life
Born in Croydon in South London to Nigerian parents Okoye was educated at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Junior School, a voluntary aided Roman Catholic state primary school in Croydon, followed by Whitgift School, an independent school for boys, also in Croydon.
Okoye is an honorary member of the St. Peter's College JCR, and has an outstanding offer from Oxford University Law school which he is keen to take up in the future.
He played rugby union as a winger for Whitgift School playing in the Daily Mail Schools Rugby Under 18 final at Twickenham in 2010, and was also a member of the academy teams of both London Irish and London Wasps.
Lawrence married his longtime girlfriend, Philippa Okoye, in August 2014. Philippa is a lawyer and financial adviser and sued her former employer, deVere Group, for racial and sexual harassment in 2015. They are both avid vegans and advocates of a plant-based lifestyle.
Discus
Okoye began training full-time in the discus in September 2010 after a promising career as a junior rugby union player. In his first international outing he came sixth in the discus throw at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He won a gold medal at the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships in July 2011 at the age of 19.
Later on that season, Okoye threw a new British record of 67.63m at the McCain Jumps & Throws Fest. He then bettered that mark with another British record of 68.24m at the Hallesche Werfertage meeting in May 2012.
In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Okoye competed in the discus, reaching the final with a throw of 65.28m. In the final, he finished in twelfth place with a throw of 61.03m. After the competition, he expressed disappointment with his placing in the final.
2013 NFL Draft
In March 2013, Okoye announced his intentions to play in the National Football League, despite having never played American football at school or university; he stated that five NFL teams expressed interest in him, and planned to sign after the 2013 NFL Draft. At the NFL Super Regional Combine, Okoye ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds, while scoring 36 inches on the vertical jump and 10 feet, 7 inches on the broad jump. Okoye was signed on 27 April by the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers
On 27 August 2013, Okoye was placed on Injured Reserve after sustaining an injury in the preseason.
On 31 August 2014, the 49ers announced that Okoye was added to the practice squad.
On 31 August 2015, Okoye was waived in order for the 49ers to make the 53 man roster.
Arizona Cardinals
On 7 September 2015, Arizona Cardinals signed Okoye to their practice squad.
On 21 October 2015, the Cardinals released Okoye from their practice squad. Head coach Bruce Arians said that a leading reason for Okoye's release was because Okoye parked his car in Arians' parking spot at team facilities.
New York Jets
On 13 November 2015, New York Jets signed Okoye to their practice squad.
Okoye signed a reserve/future contract on 11 January 2016.
The Jets released Okoye on 1 June 2016.
Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys signed Okoye on 8 June 2016, but he was released on 3 September 2016 during final roster cuts.
Chicago Bears
On 23 November 2016, Okoye was signed to the Bears' practice squad.
Miami Dolphins
On 12 January 2017, Okoye signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins. He was waived on 2 September 2017.
Montreal Alouettes
On 18 September 2017, Okoye signed to the practice squad of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian football League.