Ryan Crouser defends Olympic gold in shot put podium repeat
With teammate Joe Kovacs and New Zealand's Tom Walsh taking silver and bronze, the medal-winning trio's Tokyo finish repeats the exact podium order from Rio, the first time in Olympic history that's happened in an individual event at consecutive Games.
Crouser confident he can top shot-put record again
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)The day after breaking a world indoor shot put record that was older than he is, 28-year-old Ryan Crouser celebrated by taking the boat out to catch some bass. How far are you throwing?’” recounted Crouser, a four-time NCAA indoor/outdoor shot-put champion at the University of Texas. Last Sunday, he eclipsed the world indoor mark of 22.66 meters (74-4¼) set by Randy Barnes on Jan. 20, 1989. Afterward, Crouser received congratulatory messages from friends, family and fellow shot-put standouts such as two-time Olympic medalist John Godina along with two-time indoor world champion Ryan Whiting. One of his shot-put pupils happened to be left-handed and to teach them, Crouser worked on attempts as a southpaw.
Back on track: Competing, not cash, lures big names to meet
When the American Track League opens its four-week-long series on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 de Grasse will be one of the athletes competing at the indoor setting at the University of Arkansas. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)The prospect of winning prize money isn’t what brings high jumper Vashti Cunningham, sprinter Andre De Grasse and other top names in track to an indoor meet in Arkansas this weekend. The American Track League begins a four-week indoor series Sunday at the University of Arkansas. Crouser's staring at a number: 22.66 meters (74 feet, 4¼ inches), which happens to be the longstanding world indoor shot put record. The 28-year-old threw 22.58 meters (74 feet, 1 inch) at a meet in Manhattan, Kansas, on Dec. 5.