Ryan Crouser at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 (© Getty Images)
The big shot from Boring, Oregon, put the record straight on the big opening night of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24.
With his penultimate throw in the men’s shot put final on Friday (1), Ryan Crouser sealed the deal of the gold medal missing from his glittering collection with a cherry-topping championship record of 22.77m.
It was a moment to sweetly savour for the two-time world outdoor and Olympic champion and world record-holder.
At the last edition of the World Indoor Championships, in Belgrade two years ago, Crouser set a championship record of 22.44m – only to lose possession of it and the gold medal, Darlan Romani snatching victory with 22.53m.
Two years on, the defending champion from Brazil finished short of the podium, down in seventh with a best of 21.11m.
Crouser landed the four farthest throws of the competition: 22.77m, 22.69m, 22.51m and 22.36m. His only other valid mark was spot on the 22-metre line.
New Zealander Tom Walsh celebrated his 32nd birthday with his fifth successive world indoor medal. The champion of 2016 and 2018 and third-placer of 2014 and 2022 nailed a first silver with a first round 22.07m.
The silver medallist behind Crouser at last year’s outdoor World Championships in Budapest, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, enhanced his standing with bronze, throwing 21.96m. His Italian teammate Zane Weir took fourth with 21.85m and Walsh’s Kiwi compatriot Jacko Gill fifth with 21.69m
“It’s a big honour,” said Crouser, unbeaten indoors since Belgrade. “There’s a fantastic atmosphere tonight – a great energy to feed off.
“It’s a great stepping stone to the Olympics for me. Technically, it was a bit iffy at times, but the power was there.”
Fabbri threw his 21.96m with the first attempt of the competition and birthday boy Walsh then stepped up to the plate with his 22.07m – only for Crouser to stamp his considerable authority on proceedings, uncorking an opening 22.36m.
That set the medal standard, with Gill, the two-time world U20 champion, leading the chasers with 20.76m.
There was no alteration to the top three by halfway. Crouser registered a foul and then 22.00m on the dot. Walsh threw 21.65m and 21.06m. Fabbri followed a foul with 20.58m.
There were changes behind, however, Gill improving to 21.18m but dropping down to sixth. Weir climbed to fourth with 21.31m, 3cm ahead of Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in fifth.
Crouser strengthen his hold on the gold medal position in round four, advancing to 22.51m. Walsh got close to his opening throw, putting 22.03m, while all three of the principal pursuers registered improvements: Weir to 21.85m, Gill to 21.69m and Enekwechi to 21.60m.
Weir might have broken into the top three with a big throw in the penultimate round but the effort took him out of the front of the circle.
Crouser continued to gather momentum as he closed in on gold, heaving his shot out to 22.77m for the championship record.
The final round proved a formality, Walsh maintaining his consistency with 21.51m and Crouser finishing with the flourish of a 22.69m effort, the second best shot put of the night and the second best in championship history.
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics
| MEN'S SHOT PUT MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Ryan Crouser 🇺🇸 USA | 22.77m CR |
| 🥈 | Tom Walsh 🇳🇿 NZL | 22.07m |
| 🥉 | Leonardo Fabbri 🇮🇹 ITA | 21.96m |
| Full results | ||
