Ryan Crouser is an American track and field athlete who competes in the shot put and discus. He specializes in the shot put, in which he is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time World Champion. He holds the world record in the shot put, both indoors and outdoors. He set the outdoor world record at 23.56 meters in May 2023, improving upon his previous record of 23.37 m from July 2021. He has held the indoor record of 22.82 m since January 2021.
Crouser in 2019 at the Millrose Games
Crouser raises his fist in victory.
Tomas Walsh (left), Joe Kovacs (center), and Crouser (right)
Crouser at the 2019 USA Indoor Championships
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the shot—as far as possible. For men, the sport has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival (1896), and women's competition began in 1948.
Polish double Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski
Czechoslovak shot putter Plíhal at the 1957 East German Indoor Athletics Championships
Shot putter at the University of Nebraska, 1942, showing the circle and stop board
Czechoslovak shot putter Jiří Skobla showing the correct technique for keeping the shot near the neck