The Men’s shot put final was held on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
“Throwing a sixteen-pound ball really beats you up. The group, Joe, Tom Walsh, Rajindra, really push me. It is that constant that I have to hold myself accountable for, that these guys are going to pass me.”, so noted Ryan Crouser, who had just made history in Paris with his third consecutive win in the shot put, making history (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and now Paris 2024).
Ryan Crouser has had some injuries this year; anyone who follows the shotput knows that. We have been worried about our shot put deity.
I recall hearing from a contact that Ryan Crouser was having a tough time this spring prior to the NIKE Pre-Class. Ryan pulled out of the Pre, which he dearly loves. I was told, ” Ryan hurt his pectoral muscle, then he hurt his elbow, hoping that he gets to Eugene for the Trials.”
There was never a doubt that Ryan was going to be in Eugene, or so I thought.
After Ryan Crouser won the Olympic trials, I was walking to the Media tent, and Paul Doyle, Ryan’s agent, said to me, ” Twelve days ago, and I did not think Ryan would be competing in the Trials.”
Well, that went down in my notebook.
In the final in Paris, Ryan Crouser, came out strong, with a 22.64m opener, which took the lead. Joe Kovacs was having some trouble, and Patton Otterdahl put one out there into bronze medal land. But this was not before Rajindra Campbell, JAM, threw a brilliant 22.15m, just shy of his 22.16 PB.
Crouser came back in round 2, with 22.69m, extending his lead.
Raijindra Campbell went 20.00m in round 1, and 22.15m in round 2, he then fouled four times.
In round 3, Ryan Crouser threw 22.90m, a seasonal best, which would prove to be the winner.
Patton Otterdahl had a pretty strong series, 21.39m, 21.98m, 22.01m, and then two fouls.
Kovacs, the two time Olympic silver medalist, had been having a tough day.
21.69m in throw 1, foul, 21.71m, foul, foul, then, BOOM!
In his last throw, a total clutch throw, Joe Kovacs kept the streak alive, hitting 22.15m, just a skosh past the 22.15m of Rajindra Campbell!
Patton Otterdahl threw 22.03m on his last throw, but he was in fourth.
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