PARIS, France — Oregon-born shot putter Ryan Crouser has qualified for his third straight Olympic shot put finals after a throw of 21.49 meters on Friday.
Crouser is the two-time reigning gold medalist, and current world record holder for the longest ever shot put throw at 23.56 meters (approximately 77.3 feet). At this year's Olympics, he is looking to make history as the first ever shot putter to win three Olympic gold medals.
Crouser finished second in his group with the Czech Republic's Tomas Stanek who threw 21.61.
Leading up to the Olympic trials this year, Crouser had not thrown in three months, due to a torn pectoral muscle. This did not end up mattering, as Crouser took home gold at the trials, throwing for 22.84 meters and qualifying for his third straight Olympic Games.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Crouser won gold by nearly a whole meter, throwing an Olympic record 23.3 meters, while second place Joe Kovacs threw for 22.65 meters. In 2016, Crouser won gold again, beating out Kovacs with a throw of 22.52 meters. If Crouser can win gold on Saturday in the men's shot put final, he will be the first shot putter to win Olympic gold three times in a row, and in general,
The men's shot put final will take place on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 10:35 a.m. PST.
Full qualifying results: Here
Where to watch the men's shot put final
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
