by Larry Eder
The Men’s shot put final was held on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
“Throwing a sixteen-pound ball really beats you up. The group, Joe, Tom Walsh, Rajindra, really push me. It is that constant that I have to hold myself accountable for, that these guys are going to pass me.”, so noted Ryan Crouser, who had just made history in Paris with his third consecutive win in the shot put, making history (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and now Paris 2024).
Ryan Crouser has had some injuries this year; anyone who follows the shotput knows that. We have been worried about our shot put deity.
I recall hearing from a contact that Ryan Crouser was having a tough time this spring prior to the NIKE Pre-Class. Ryan pulled out of the Pre, which he dearly loves. I was told, ” Ryan hurt his pectoral muscle, then he hurt his elbow, hoping that he gets to Eugene for the Trials.”
There was never a doubt that Ryan was going to be in Eugene, or so I thought.
After Ryan Crouser won the Olympic trials, I was walking to the Media tent, and Paul Doyle, Ryan’s agent, said to me, ” Twelve days ago, and I did not think Ryan would be competing in the Trials.”
Well, that went down in my notebook.
In the final in Paris, Ryan Crouser, came out strong, with a 22.64m opener, which took the lead. Joe Kovacs was having some trouble, and Patton Otterdahl put one out there into bronze medal land. But this was not before Rajindra Campbell, JAM, threw a brilliant 22.15m, just shy of his 22.16 PB.
Crouser came back in round 2, with 22.69m, extending his lead.
Raijindra Campbell went 20.00m in round 1, and 22.15m in round 2, he then fouled four times.
In round 3, Ryan Crouser threw 22.90m, a seasonal best, which would prove to be the winner.
Patton Otterdahl had a pretty strong series, 21.39m, 21.98m, 22.01m, and then two fouls.
Kovacs, the two time Olympic silver medalist, had been having a tough day.
21.69m in throw 1, foul, 21.71m, foul, foul, then, BOOM!
In his last throw, a total clutch throw, Joe Kovacs kept the streak alive, hitting 22.15m, just a skosh past the 22.15m of Rajindra Campbell!
Patton Otterdahl threw 22.03m on his last throw, but he was in fourth.
Somewhere in the fourth round, it began to rain, a god awful rain, and three throwers in a row, fell, seven in a row fouled.
Ryan Crouser cemented his win on his big three throws, 22.64m, 22.69m, 22.90m SB, two fouls, and then, on round six, knowing that he, Ryan Crouser, king of his domain, the Men’s shot put, put his sixteen pound steel orb in a quiet resting place and did not throw a sixth attempt.
In the presser, emceed by our friend and Atlanta Track Club dude Jay Holder, Ryan and Joe and Rajindra were asked a few questions. This writer, who thrives in Olympic and WC media pressers, wishes he could have been there.
Joe Kovacs was asked what was he thinking prior to his clutch sixth throw?
Joe Kovacs, “I was swinging, going after Ryan. After the rain, I saw three guys fall, and in that moment, I punched one out there, to make sure that I kept the streak alive.”
Raijindra was asked what he felt about providing Jamaica its first Men’s shot put medal?
Rajindra Campbell replied , ” It still has not sunk in, I will speak to family. I look up to these guys. To be up here with the guys, the dreams come through. For now, I need a cheeseburger.” “I want to be in the 23 meter club, I expected some challenges in 22.15m when I threw. They deserve all that they have accomplished, still hungry. ”
Joe Kovacs, three time Olympic silver medalist, was asked about his celebration…
Joe Kovacs replied, ” My wife is here, as Olympic coach. I am heading home to 20 month old twins, really proud to see my family, and be back with little guys.”
And Ryan Crouser wanted to see family and friends, who, he noted, were having French cooking classes and drinking beer. Ryan admitted that sounded really good right now.
Ryan Crouser added , ” I will change hats from athlete to coach, as I coach Rajindra in the discus in the next few days.”
And so, the Men’s shot put, an event where they throw sixteen pound balls of steel seventy to seventy-five feet, was wonderous, even in the rain. Ryan Crouser did note that he is considering LA 2028.
The sad moment for me was our friend, Tom Walsh. I first met Tom, through his late agent, in 2015. It was suggested that I meet Tomas and that I would like his Kiwi grit. I always have. He did a superb interview with me during the height of the pandemic when, none of us were traveling. Well, Tom got injured during the shot put and could not get a mark, in a season when he had thrown over 22 meters.
Get healthy Tom, love seeing you stirring it up in the Men’s shot put.
London Athletics Meet
July 23, 2023, London, England, U.K., photo by Kevin Morris
Here’s a couple more stories on Ryan Crouser, please enjoy!
