It All Started Here: Ryan Crouser

Ryan Crouser’s success as a track and field thrower on the national, world and Olympic levels is impressive. He is the three-time Olympic gold medalist in the shot put and has won two other gold medals at World Championships. He also won four NCAA titles at the shot put while at the University of Texas.

It’s no surprise. Track and field success is something that comes with the Crouser name.

His father, Mitch Crouser, was a competitive shot putter, and his uncle, Brian Crouser, competed in two Olympics. Two cousins, Sam and Haley, held the boys and girls national high school record in the javelin throw at one point.

At Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon, Crouser began setting records in the discus and shot put as a sophomore, eventually setting the state record in the shot put in 2009. Overall, he won four Oregon School Activities Association state championships – two each in the discus and shot put.

After his success at Texas, Crouser quickly became a force at the international level. The pinnacle of his professional career came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Crouser set an Olympic record in the men’s shot put final with a throw of 23.30 meters. This performance not only earned him a gold medal but also made him the first American male to win Olympic gold in the shot put since 2004.