by Larry EderThe men’s shot put was supposed to be on of the highlights of the 114th Millrose Games. I was looking forward to the competition.
I felt something was wrong when the Men’s shot put was now shown live.
Ryan Crouser, 2022 Millrose Games, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Why? Well, the races were so hot during the competition, one after another, that the NBC team must have been juggling feeds to figure out how to show the meet. The meet was fantastic.
But, fans, like me, wanted to see Ryan Crouser.
What happened?
Ryan Crouser is the two time Olympic champion in the shot put. In Rio, in 2016, I watched him dominate the field from the Stadium Engenhao, and take his first gold.
In 2021, in the Tokyo Olympics, I watched Ryan Crouser dominite the field once again, after setting World records both indoors (January 2021) and outdoors (June 2021). Now the top Men’s shot putter in the world.
The Millrose Games was his first competition since the Tokyo Olympics.
Ryan Crouser and Jeff Benjamin, photo by Jeff Benjamin
What happened in Millrose?
There was an equipment malfunction.
At first, we heard that Ryan Crouser had thrown 23.38m, the farthest throw ever, indoors or out.
Then, he was given a throw of 22.48m, then 22.50m.
His agent, Paul Doyle, sent out via social media that there was a malfunction with the measuring equipment.
Then, Jeff Benjamin sent this to me:
So, the throws were thrown out. All of the throws were thrown out.
Unfortunately, malfunctions happen. It does not make it better, but it does happen.
Ryan Crouser has handled it well, he told media that he knows he is in 22.50 shape or better.
We will just have to wait until his next meet!
