In a historic achievement, American shot-putter Ryan Crouser has secured his third consecutive Olympic gold medal, marking a first in shot-put history. Competing in Saint-Denis, France, Crouser outperformed all his competitors on Saturday, despite challenging weather conditions.
Crouser holds both the world record at 23.56 meters and the Olympic record at 23.30 meters. During the finals, affected by a downpour that hindered many athletes, the 31-year-old managed a seasonal best throw of 22.90 meters. This victory comes after a season plagued by injuries, including issues with his throwing elbow.
Reflecting on his journey, Crouser remarked, “This year hasn’t been easy. A lot of self-doubt as to whether I would get back. It’s made it all the more special to be out there tonight. There were a lot of times I thought I might not be.”
He also praised fellow American Joe Kovacs, who managed to climb from fourth place to win silver. Kovacs has consistently shared the podium with Crouser in the past three Olympics, earning a silver medal each time. “The rain came in, and it was tough conditions towards the end,” Crouser noted. “It helped to be leading, but the throw of the day goes to Joe Kovacs in round 6. … the most impressive throw I’ve ever seen him take.”
Crouser first triumphed in the shot put at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and repeated his success at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games. Despite his dominance, he seeks continuous improvement. “In Tokyo, I felt so much pressure to perform because I had just thrown the world record,” he said. “I was in fantastic shape. It felt like it was mine to lose.”
He acknowledges that the pursuit of the perfect throw is an ongoing challenge. “The search for that perfect throw with the perfect preparation, I really don’t think it will ever happen,” he previously told NPR. “So, you’re kind of chasing the white buffalo in the sense that it exists in your mind. It’s something that you try to put into existence, but is virtually impossible.”
Crouser combines his athletic prowess with academic excellence. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in finance from the University of Texas, and he uses his background in engineering and analytics to refine his throwing technique. His innovative method, known as the “Crouser Slide,” involves an additional spin of almost 60 degrees to maximize speed and explosiveness in his throws. Crouser’s demanding training regimen reflects the comprehensive nature of his sport. “It’s a full-body movement. So you’re training everything,” he said. “We train sprints like a sprinter. Our plyometrics are very, very dynamic, as well as almost like an Olympic weightlifter meets a long-drive golfer.”