If gold medals were awarded for efficiency, Ryan Crouser might have them all beat.
The U.S. shot put star and world record holder has made only six competitive throws all season — all at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 — and come away with his third straight world title.
After battling an elbow this season, the 32-year-old made his season debut on Saturday morning (13 September) in the Japanese capital. With one single heave, he tossed the shot 21.37m to register an automatic qualifying mark for the final, his morning’s work done and dusted.
With a loud and supportive crowd behind him, Crouser thrived in the final.
The Olympic champion moved into the lead with his second throw, a mighty 21.99m that no-one else eventually topped. His fifth attempt went 22.34m, the only throw in the final to go past the 22m marker on the infield, and drew roars from the crowd.
As the top six prepared for the final series of throws in reverse order, no one else came close — although Mexico’s Uziel Muñoz, fifth heading into that last round, found something from deep within to hurl a new Mexican national record 21.97m to snatch silver.
With neither New Zealand’s Tom Walsh or Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, both on 21.94m, improving, Crouser forfeited his final throw as he celebrated what is perhaps the most efficient shot put season ever put together: six throws and a world title.
Fabbri took bronze ahead of Walsh on count-back, with their second-best throws measuring 21.83m and 21.58m respectively.
“This World Champs I think is probably the most special to me,” Crouser told assembled media afterwards. “This one was definitely the most challenging from a mental and physical side. This was the first time I’ve really thrown hard since last September — the elbow [discomfort] has really lingered.
“I did some long-lasting damage in the preparation for the Paris Olympics, and threw through it, but paid the price for it. I didn’t really start to see progress until May so it was just a bit of a nightmare getting the elbow healthy.”
Crouser added that he will take some time off to focus on a big change for his family, as he and his wife are moving to a new city.
“This will be it [for the season] — one and done for me. Focus now on getting healthy all the way. I’m also making a couple of big moves outside of track so my career is taking a back seat. My wife is a doctor and so I’m moving to Nashville for her residency programme. So that’ll be the kind of second career for a little bit.”
Muñoz, for his part, was thrilled with his performance, dedicating it to his late brother who passed away aged six.
“Every time I compete it’s for him,” he told Olympics.com. “He watched me grow, from when I started, although he is no longer with me I dedicate every competition to him. He was what allowed me to dedicate myself 100 per cent to this.
“I’m very happy and contented, it’s been a lot of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I’ve worked to the maximum in training to be able to execute here at the right moment during this event.
“My sister told me yesterday, ‘your life will change once you throw 22 metres’ — but I fell 3cm short! So hopefully my life will indeed change.”