Texas-ex Ryan Crouser wins shot put gold at Paris Olympics for historic three-peat

Former Texas standout Ryan Crouser has long been seen as likely the best shot putter in the world. However, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he perhaps cemented himself as the greatest of all time.

Crouser’s best throw was 75 feet, ⅓ inch, but actually all three of his attempts were gold medal-level throws. Team USA’s Joe Kovacs finished second, throwing 69 feet, 4¾ inches and Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell came in third with nearly an identical mark but not enough to overtake Kovacs.

The world record of 77⅓ remained safe, as did Crouser’s own Olympic record of 76½. Crouser became the first Olympian ever to win a gold medal in the shot put in three consecutive Olympics.

The level of dominance Crouser has had in the event is staggering. He holds the world record for longest shot put in both indoors and outdoors, breaking Randy Barnes’ records in 2021 with throws of 22.82 meters and 23.37 meters respectively.

An Oregon native, Crouser chose Texas over Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State and Stanford. While at Texas from 2012-16, Crouser won four NCAA titles in shot put and won his first gold medal at the Rio de Janiero Olympics in 2016 before winning another gold and setting an Olympic record at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ryan Crouser wins gold at Olympics for historic shot put three-peat