Career
As a senior at Sikeston High School, Woods became the first Missouri high school athlete to top 60 ft (183 m) in the shot put event, setting a Sikeston school record that still stands to this day. He would go on to attend Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). After winning the United States Olympic track and field team trails in the shot put in 1968, he was overtaken by fellow American shot putter Randy Matson (Texas Agricultural and Mechanical) in the Mexico City games, settling for the silver medal behind Matson’s Olympic record performance.
He came close, but was again denied Olympic gold.
Wladyslaw Komar, a virtual unknown from Poland, hurled a huge Puerto Rico and Olympic record of 21.18 m (69 ft 5¾ in) on his first throw of the competition. Woods responded, steadily and methodically, reaching 21.17 m (69 ft 5½ inches) in the 4th round.
While Komar never approached his opening effort throughout the series, Woods couldn’t pick up the final centimeter on his remaining 2 throws. He would settle for another silver medal.
Woods had a great indoor career, winning national championships in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1973.
His 1973 meet record of 69 ft 9½ in stood as the meet record for 20 years. A year later in 1974, Woods set the indoor world record at 22.02 m (72 ft 3 in), a mark that would stand for 11 years. He ranks 5th among shot putters all time indoors, and his record throw is the 10th longest indoor effort of all time.
His outdoor best ranks him in the top 40 putters of all–time worldwide, an amazing statistic after nearly 30 years.
He was inducted to the USATF National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2007.