Ryan Crouser

Ryan Crouser (born December 18, 1992) is an American shot putter and discus thrower. Crouser won the gold medal in the shot put at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He had previously won the gold medal in the boys' shot put at the 2009 World Youth Championships and was a four-time NCAA champion in the shot put indoors and outdoors for the University of Texas. He is a three time USA National Outdoor Shot Put Champion (2016, 2017, 2019), and the current 2019 USA Indoor National Shot Put Champion. At the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Crouser won the silver medal in "the greatest – and closest – shot put competition ever[1]" that "Redefines Men's Shot Put[2]" according to the IAAF.

Ryan Crouser
Crouser at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1992-12-18) December 18, 1992
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight320 lb (145 kg)
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Shot put
Discus throw
College teamTexas Longhorns
ClubNike
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)SP: 22.90 m (2019)
DT: 63.90 m (2014)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroShot put
World Championships
2019 DohaShot put
World Youth Championships
2009 BressanoneShot put
2009 BressanoneDiscus throw

Biography

Crouser was born in Portland, Oregon[3] on December 18, 1992, and raised in Boring.[4][5] He belongs to a family of throwers; his father Mitch Crouser was an alternate on the 1984 Olympic discus team, his uncle Brian Crouser qualified for two Olympic teams in the javelin, his other uncle Dean Crouser was a good shot putter and discus thrower, and his cousins Sam and Haley are both javelin throwers.[6] He took up track and field in fifth grade, but was initially not as good as his cousin Sam; he made his breakthrough in eighth and ninth grade.[6]

In 2009, his sophomore year at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon, Crouser set a national sophomore record with the 3.58 lb (1.62 kg) high school discus, throwing 202 ft 6 in (61.72 m); the mark was also the Oregon high school state record until Sam Crouser broke it the following year.[6][7] Crouser won both the 5 kg shot and the 1.5 kg discus at the 2009 national youth championships, and was selected for the IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy in both events.[6] In Bressanone he took gold in the shot put, breaking the championship record with a 21.56 m (70 ft 9 in) put in the fifth round; in the discus he won silver.[8]

Crouser's 2010 season was hampered by a foot injury.[9] He returned to top shape in 2011, breaking the national high school indoor record in the 12 lb (5.44 kg) shot put with 77 ft ​2 3⁄4 in (23.54 m); the mark placed him second behind Mike Carter's outdoor record on the all-time national high school list.[9][10] Outdoors, he broke the national high school record in the discus, throwing 237 ft 6 in (72.40 m) to add one foot to Mason Finley's record from 2009.[10] Crouser graduated from Barlow High after the 2011 season; he chose to go to the University of Texas instead of the family's traditional choice of Oregon.[9]

Collegiate career

As a collegiate freshman with the Texas Longhorns, Crouser placed fifth in the shot at the 2012 NCAA indoor championships and fourth in the discus at the outdoor championships; he injured his hand at the NCAA indoor meet, and the injury also affected his outdoor season.[11][12]

Crouser suffered from infections during the next off-season, and his weight dropped heavily; he redshirted the 2013 indoor season to regain full health.[12] He returned to action for the outdoor season, throwing a personal best 21.09 m (69 ft ​2 1⁄4 in) at the Big 12 conference championships; he won his first NCAA championship title in the shot put that summer with 20.31 m (66 ft ​7 3⁄4 in), but only placed eighth in the discus.[11][13] Crouser, who had been successful academically, began to struggle somewhat with the heavy workload during his second year at Texas; he had originally planned to major in engineering, but switched to economics after that year.[14]

Crouser won his first NCAA indoor shot put title in 2014, throwing 21.21 m (69 ft 7 in) and winning by almost four feet.[11] He was briefly the outdoor world leader after improving his personal best to 21.27 m (69 ft ​9 1⁄2 in) at the Texas Relays on March 28.[11] At the Big 12 outdoor championships he set personal bests and new meeting records in both the shot and the discus, with throws of 21.39 m (70 ft ​2 1⁄2 in) and 63.90 m (209 ft 9 in) respectively; it was the first time he broke 70 feet with the 16 lb (7.26 kg) shot.[14] Crouser won his second consecutive shot put title at the 2014 NCAA outdoor championships, with a heave of 21.12 m (69 ft ​3 1⁄2 in), but injured his foot in the process; he had also qualified for the final in the discus, but was forced to scratch from that event.[15]

In 2015 Crouser placed second behind Stipe Žunić at the NCAA indoor championships, reaching 20.93 m (68 ft 8 in) on his best attempt.[11] His chances of winning a third consecutive NCAA outdoor title were spoiled as he re-aggravated an old thumb injury at the championships; he placed fifth in both the shot and the discus.[16]

Due to red-shirting the 2013 indoor season, Crouser had one more winter of collegiate eligibility left; as a fifth-year senior, he threw a personal best 21.73 m (71 ft ​3 1⁄2 in) at the 2016 Big 12 indoor championships and won his second collegiate indoor title with a put of 21.28 m (69 ft ​9 3⁄4 in).[11][17] Crouser's Big 12 mark equaled Ryan Whiting's collegiate indoor record from 2008; he ranked second behind New Zealand's Tom Walsh on the 2016 world indoor list.[11][18]

Representing University of Texas at Austin
College championshipEventDistancePlace
2016 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.28 m (69 ft 9 3⁄4 in)
2016 Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.73 m (71 ft 3 1⁄2 in)
2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put19.99 m (65 ft 7 in)5th
Discus60.18 m (197 ft 5 1⁄4 in)5th
2015 Big 12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put20.52 m (67 ft 3 3⁄4 in)
Discus58.92 m (193 ft 3 1⁄2 in)
2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put20.93 m (68 ft 8 in)
2015 Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.14 m (69 ft 4 1⁄4 in)
2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.12 m (69 ft 3 1⁄4 in)
2014 Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.39 m (70 ft 2 in)
Discus63.90 m (209 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
2014 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.21 m (69 ft 7 in)
2014 Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put20.63 m (67 ft 8 in)
2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put20.31 m (66 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Discus59.21 m (194 ft 3 in)8th
2013 Big 12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put21.09 m (69 ft 2 1⁄4 in)
Discus55.42 m (181 ft 9 3⁄4 in)
2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put18.50 m (60 ft 8 1⁄4 in)16th
Discus59.77 m (196 ft 1 in)4th
2012 Big 12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put17.78 m (58 ft 4 in)7th
Discus56.01 m (183 ft 9 in)5th
2012 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put19.94 m (65 ft 5 in)5th
2012 Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put19.90 m (65 ft 3 1⁄4 in)

Professional career

Crouser completed a two-year master's degree in finance in 2016.[19] He then hired Paul Doyle as his agent.[20] Crouser improved his personal best in the shot to 21.85 m (71 ft ​8 1⁄4 in) shortly before the 2016 United States Olympic Trials. This throw stood second in the U.S on the yearly list, eleven inches behind reigning World Champion Joe Kovacs.[20] At the Olympic Trials, on his second throw of the finals, Crouser uncorked a 22.11 m (72 ft 6 1⁄4 in) to not only win in an upset over Kovacs, but to become the number 18 thrower in history. A few weeks later, at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Crouser improved his personal best and standing on the all-time list three times. Already leading the competition, he threw a massive personal best 22.52 m (73 ft 10 1⁄2 in) in the fifth round to break the Olympic Record and secure the tenth best men's shot put performance of all time.

Crouser is a three time USA National Outdoor Shot Put Champion (2016, 2017, 2019), and the current 2019 USA Indoor National Shot Put Champion. At the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Crouser won the silver medal in "the greatest – and closest – shot put competition ever[21]" that "Redefines Men's Shot Put[22]" according to the IAAF. Ryan Crouser's best throw in 2019 was 22.90 m, which makes him the fifth best performer of all time. He has thrown 22.60 m in indoors 2020 to make him the second best performer in indoor history, only 6 cm behind Randy Barnes' record of 22.66 m

Representing  United States
2019 World Championships in AthleticsShot Put22.90 m (75 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
2018 IAAF Continental CupShot Put21.63 m (70 ft 11 1⁄2 in)5th
2017 World Championships in AthleticsShot Put21.20 m (69 ft 6 1⁄2 in)6th
2016 Summer OlympicsShot Put22.52 m (73 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
2009 World Youth Championships in AthleticsShot Put21.56 m (70 ft 8 3⁄4 in)
Discus61.64 m (202 ft 2 3⁄4 in)
Representing Nike
2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Shot Put 22.62 m (74 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Shot Put 22.22 m (72 ft 10 3⁄4 in)
2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put20.99 m (68 ft 10 1⁄4 in)
2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsShot Put22.65 m (74 ft 3 1⁄2 in)
2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)Shot Put22.11 m (72 ft 6 1⁄4 in)
2009 World Youth Track and Field Trials[23]Shot Put21.55 m (70 ft 8 1⁄4 in)
Discus63.33 m (207 ft 9 1⁄4 in)
2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships[24][25]Shot Put17.48 m (57 ft 4 in)
Discus54.94 m (180 ft 2 3⁄4 in)

Coaching

In December 2019, Crouser moved from United States Olympic Training Center in San Diego to Fayetteville, Arkansas to coach University of Arkansas Track and Field teams.[26]

References
  1. "Report: men's shot put - IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019| News | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  2. "Doha final redefines mens' shot put| News | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  3. "Oregon native wins shot put gold, sets record". KATU. Portland, Oregon. Associated Press. August 18, 2016. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019.
  4. "Ryan Crouser – 2012 Men's Track and Field". TexasSports.com. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  5. Mesh, Aaron (August 23, 2016). "Here's How Far Oregon Olympian Ryan Crouser Threw a Shot Put". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019.
  6. Krider, Dave (May 5, 2010). "New generation continues Crouser family throwing tradition". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  7. Pfeifer, Jack (June 17, 2009). "Ryan Crouser, First Oregon Prep Discus Over 200 feet at Mac Wilkins All-Comers Meet in Portland, Or". MileSplit. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  8. Oddi, Vicky (July 11, 2009). "Crouser wins shot with championship record at World Youths". MileSplit. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  9. Mauldin, Tom (February 23, 2011). "With 1 record down, Ryan Crouser shifts to others". MaxPreps.com.
  10. Shepard, Jack. "High School All-Time Top 10s – Men". Track & Field News. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  11. Ryan Crouser at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  12. "Ryan Crouser strives through injuries to earn Texas Relays win". The Daily Texan. April 1, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  13. Eggers, Kerry (June 7, 2013). "Dean Crouser on nephew Ryan: World record in 4–5 years?". Portland Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  14. Eggers, Kerry (May 27, 2014). "Is Ryan Crouser ready to take a shot at a collegiate record?". Portland Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  15. Goe, Ken (June 11, 2014). "Ryan Crouser of Texas wins the shot, but it's a painful day for the former Barlow star". OregonLive. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  16. Greif, Andrew (June 10, 2015). "Cousins Ryan and Sam Crouser share bittersweet day competing side-by-side at NCAA championships". OregonLive. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  17. Texas TFRRS | Ryan Crouser Direct Athletics. August 20, 2016.
  18. Mills, Steven (February 28, 2016). "Maslak prepares for Portland with Czech 200m title – indoor round-up". International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  19. NOW OLYMPIC CHAMPION CROUSER’S ONLY FULL-TIME JOB IAAF. January 8, 2017.
  20. Eggers, Kerry (June 21, 2016). "Ryan Crouser ready for shot at Rio Olympics". Portland Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  21. "Report: men's shot put - IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019| News | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  22. "Doha final redefines mens' shot put| News | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  23. 2009 World Youth Track and Field Trials Results USATF
  24. 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships Shot Put Results USATF
  25. 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships Discus Results USATF
  26. Former Olympian Crouser Joins Men’s Track & Field University of Arkansas Razorbacks KYLE PARKINSON
Awards
Preceded by
Sam Crouser		 Track & Field News High School Boys Athlete of the Year
2011		 Succeeded by
Tyreek Hill
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