Ryan Crouser surpasses Randy Barnes’ long-standing record

EUGENE, Ore. – After 132 throws beyond the 22-meter mark, Ryan Crouser is finally a world record holder. Crouser threw an astounding 23.37 meters, or 76 feet, 8 ¼ inches, on his fourth throw of the men’s shot put finals Friday at the Olympic Trials.

“Finally getting out of my way, I felt 10 pounds lighter when it popped up on the reader in front of me,” Crouser said.

As Crouser launched his fourth attempt, he threw his hands above his head in celebration as soon as the ball was in the air. He already knew it was good.

“To do it at the new Hayward Field … felt really special,” he said. “To be here in front of friends and family … it definitely means a lot.”

Crouser had gone since Winter 2019 without seeing his family, which made this occasion even more memorable for him.

Crouser had already set a world record this season, earning himself the indoor shot put crown in January. But he said that this record meant more.

Randy Barnes had held the world record since 1990 when he threw 23.12 meters (75 feet, 10 ¼ inches) at a meet in Los Angeles. Later that year, however, Barnes was banned from track and field after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.

“All I can say is that with the regimen of drug testing we go through, I am happy that the world record is under the system that we are under,” Crouser said.

There has been talk about the possibility of Crouser breaking Barnes’ record since the 2016 Olympics when Crouser won gold with a throw of 22.52 meters, an Olympic record.

“There wasn’t really one point where I was like, ‘OK, I can do this’… it was really from when I started it was always a dream,” Crouser said.

Crouser had come close at the USATF Throws Festival on May 22, throwing above 23 meters but a few feet short of the record. In the qualifying round Friday morning, the first event of the trials, Crouser hit 22.92 on his first throw. 

Men’s shot put in the United States has been known for its depth for a long time but today it seemed that all of the athletes were producing some of their best possible work. Joe Kovacs, the 2019 world champion, finished second, and Payton Otterdahl knocked 2016 Olympian Darrell Hill out of the top three to make his first Olympic team on his final throw.

“I’m happy he broke the record, and now onto the Olympics,” Kovacs said.

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