Ryan Crouser completes his medal set in Glasgow

American breaks championships record on his way to shot put title, while Olyslagers scripts dramatic high jump win and Vidts creates pentathlon history

Ryan Crouser is an accumulator – of records and of medals. He added one more of each to his impressive collection on the opening evening of the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow (March 1).

The only major shot put title missing from the American’s CV was this one and he wasted little time in changing that situation, taking control of the competition from his opening throw and producing a championships record-breaking 22.77m in the fifth round.

The closest anyone could get to the two-time world and Olympic champion was Tom Walsh, the New Zealander’s opening effort of 22.07m allowing him to celebrate his 32^nd birthday with a silver medal. Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, runner-up at last summer’s World Championships in Budapest, took bronze with 21.96m.

At the Belgrade edition of these championships two years ago, Brazil’s Darlan Romani sprang a surprise defeat on Crouser but, this time, there really was very little doubt as to who would be taking home the gold.

The world record-holder had come into these championships as a world leader, having fallen just two centimetres short of his world indoor mark in taking the US indoor title with a throw of 22.80m last month.

At the Emirates Arena, he hurled the shot out to 22.36m, then tightened his grip on gold with 22.51m in the fourth round. That effort took him to a career tally of 250 throws of 22m plus. His 251^st  broke the championships record before he finished his night’s work with 22.69m.

Now the Oregon native will turn his attentions to claiming a third Olympic crown this summer and he seems to be firmly on track to do just that. In an exclusive interview in the current issue of AW, he describes how he set about remodelling his technique to invent the “Crouser Slide” a method which has brought him nothing but success so far.

He believes there is more to come, too.

“This is a big stepping stone towards the Olympics,” said Crouser. “It is great to get a championships record. My strength is very good and I’m excited about what I can throw [this season].”

British champion Scott Lincoln finished 10^th with a best throw of 20.36m.

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