Ryan Crouser – triple Olympic champion

Ryan Crouser – triple Olympic champion

What more is there to say about Ryan?  Let’s start with his own depiction of his profession for someone who has never seen it: He came up with the analogy of finding the heaviest ten-pin bowling ball, standing on a basketball free-throw line, turning around and using one hand, shooting a basket at the far end!

Two personal stories about the man.  I approached him at the final Diamond League of the season for an interview.  “Sure. Give me a month, then contact my agent.” “Contact my agent” often means “No, but I will let my agent say No”.  A month later, I asked again, and it was set up on Zoom.  The Zoom link does not work, so it is an easy out – but no.  Contacts agent who tells me.  New Zoom link, and he is waiting.  Great interview.  What a gentleman, what integrity!

One year, in Lausanne, he was on media duties, speaking to a Swiss radio reporter who clearly knew nothing of shot put and asked inane lifestyle questions. Ryan answered every dumb question with grace. I was next up and asked if it was okay if I asked him about shot put—a polite smile.

So how do you put a shot 22 m?  When Ryan is the man to ask – so I did.

1. Physical attributes required?

Ryan Crouser: “On the bigger side, as far as the build goes, it is good.  If you are skinny and built like a distance runner with narrow shoulders and a lighter bone frame, it’s hard to throw the shot a long way.  But I would say that’s not a make or break because, when I was younger, I was tall and skinny.   It’s a misconception that it’s just about how much can you bench press.  Being an all-round athlete and how you move is important; a good sense of rhythm is also important. So a really good athlete, on the bigger side because if you’re big and strong that helps.  But I would say it’s easier to get bigger and stronger than to develop a natural athleticism.”

2. What generates distance – technique, speed, strength?

Ryan Crouser:  “For me, at this stage, it’s a game of inches, trying to get it where I can. The technical gains are the largest in terms of gaining distance.  Speed and strength, I would describe as limiting factors.  If you are not strong enough to be proficient through the movements, that can be detrimental.  And if you can’t go fast enough that can also be detrimental. “