Olympics a piece of cake after U.S. trials - Cantwell

By Simon Baskett

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Winning the U.S. Olympic trials will be more difficult than capturing a gold in Beijing, world indoor shot put champion Christian Cantwell said.

"Beating everyone else after our trials is a piece of cake. There is nobody in the world that can compete with us," Cantwell told reporters after Friday's triumph.

"The U.S. trials is usually the determinant of the Olympic champion to be honest. I don't see anyone that can beat us in the world.

"We have like five or six guys that could win the Olympics so it's pretty hard in the U.S."

Cantwell, who had not been on the podium of a major competition since winning the world indoor title in 2004, defied his critics by beating fellow American and reigning indoor and outdoor champion Reese Hoffa to take gold in Valencia with a put of 21.77 metres.

"Beating the best in the world is taking a nice scalp, but he could take the next 20 for all I know and I've just (got) to keep working hard and pray I don't get hurt," he said.

"I got lucky today and that was it. My training's been going okay and I'm just happy that I won."