If such a thing as taking the shot put world by storm even exists, American Ryan Crouser did it at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
An NCAA shot put champion from Texas, Crouser won the gold medal in the men’s event by setting a new Olympic record with a throw of 22.52 meters. Over six attempts Thursday night, he recorded the three longest throws in the world this year and ended up as the only competitor in these Games to surpass 22 meters.
Crouser announced his presence earlier in the day by setting a new Olympics qualifying record with a throw of 21.59 meters on his very first attempt of the competition.
American Joe Kovacs, the defending world champion, took home the silver medal with a throw of 21.78 meters.
Semi-bold prediction of the night… Ulf Timmermann's Olympic Shot Put record of 22.47m is going down
— trey hardee (@treyhardee) August 18, 2016
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