(l-r) Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs celebrate winning gold and silver in men’s shot put during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 03, 2024 in St. Denis, France. (Photo by Getty Images)
SAINT-DENIS, France — Ryan Crouser may go down as the greatest shot-putter to ever heave the 16-pound implement – the burly American athlete became an Olympic champion for the third consecutive time, under the lights, on Saturday night at Stade de France.
Crouser opened his quest for an Olympic shot put triple with an excellent first round throw of 21.64 meters, demonstratively expressing his approval to the equally loud and energetic crowd in Paris. The 31-year-old from Fayetteville, Arkansas, then improved upon that with a second-round toss of 22.69m, and progressed yet again, with a third-round mark of 22.90m.
It was an impressive display and sheer dominance by the hulking 6-foot-7 athlete, especially considering a shoulder injury and other injuries that he has been dealing with this Olympic season. All three of Crouser’s throws were far enough for him to become the first shot putter in 128-years of Olympic history to win three consecutive gold medals.
“Throwing a 16-pound ball is not easy on the body – throwing it as hard as you can, as far as you can beats you up,” Crouser told reporters, after the record-breaking triumph. “Being the first to win three is a testament to just how much shot does beat you up.
“It’s been a total commitment, being Olympic champ for three consecutive is testament to the total dedication and hard work that has gone into it. Just focusing and realizing it is a 365-day a year job,” he said. “It’s a lot of sacrifices and years upon years to committing to that has allowed me to get to the level that I’m at.”
It was the 22.90m winning mark which ultimately held up for victory, albeit considerably shorter than his Olympic record of 23.30m from Tokyo 2020. And for a third consecutive Olympic Games, Crouser’s longtime rival Joe Kovacs finished right behind him with a silver medal.
The 35-year-old Kovacs was far from at his best for five throws and sat out of the medals. As rainfall at Stade de France began to increase and four opponents encountered problems with grip and traction inside the ring, Kovacs unleashed a huge toss of 22.15m, that tied Jamaican Rajindra Campbell for second place. Considering that the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania shot putter possessed a longer second throw from his third round, the silver medal belonged to him.
“This one I felt more emotions than the others, who knows if this will be my last Olympics – I felt really proud because my wife is the Olympic coach for the women here, so we are both here on a mission,” Kovacs said, noting wife Ashley, who also serves as his personal coach.
Joe Kovacs throws in the men’s shot put final during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 03, 2024 in St. Denis, France. (Photo by Getty Images)
“I think I was capable of the gold – my season best would have won it. When the rain started and I’m in fourth place and three guys before me fell on my last round throw – I’ll tell you that last throw was not a good technical throw, but it was a good emotional throw.
“I’ll probably be more proud of that throw as a silver medal than all the ones before. Being fourth place in the last round is not somewhere you want to be.
“I thought I have to come home with a piece of hardware – I think this is my eighth medal (Olympics and world championships) in a row, so I had to keep that streak going.
“I’m really glad that I tapped into that last throw – I went to the well. Tying with Rajindra – congrats to him for a big throw, but I’m pretty proud of my throw.”
Crouser commended his longtime friendly rival for uncorking a superb toss in the clutch, under deteriorating weather conditions.
“I’ve been throwing against Joe since 2012, and tonight I think was the most impressive throw that I’ve ever seen him take,” Crouser said. “Joe has had monster throws, Doha (world championships 2019 gold) comes to mind, but in round six, in the rain, in adverse conditions, to move from outside the medals to a silver, at 35-years-old, hats off to him.
“Joe’s a battler, he was out there fighting and it’s absolutely mind-blowing that me and him have been top of the podium at three consecutive Olympics,” the three-time Olympic champion said.
Payton Otterdahl nearly made it a U.S. 1-2-3 sweep as the standings reflected after the first round, however he had to settle for fourth, overtaken by Campbell and Kovacs, by .88 meters.
“That’s just the reality of fourth place – it doesn’t feel good,” said a very dejected Otterdahl. I’m not pleased with the performance, but it is what it is.
“I wish we could have made it a sweep – we were close, but not close enough,” said the 28-year-old.
Crouser’s third straight gold-medal winning performance at the Olympic Games, surpasses fellow American shot putters Ralph Rose (1900 & 1904), and Parry O’Brien (1952 & 1956), both of whom won two consecutive titles.
“The self-doubt, the injuries and so lucky to have my family here, I haven’t seen them, they’ve been running around Paris,” Crouser said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them.
“The goal for me is to retire in 2028, as an American, on home soil, at an American Olympics,” Crouser says, referring to the LA28 Olympics. “That would be a dream come true.”
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Source: USA Today
