PARIS: Ryan Crouser likes making history, whether by breaking decades-old world records or Olympic landmarks, and the genial American can post a new first in Paris by becoming the only three-time Olympic shot put champion. The 31-year-old will enter the Games on the back of three injuries and finishing second to European champion Leonardo Fabbri in the final Diamond League meet, in London, before Paris but he can never be discounted.

Last year was a case in point as he won his third world outdoor title, twice breaking the championship record. That was despite lacking proper training and preparation due to a deep vein thrombosis uncovered 20 days before the showpiece event. He labelled it the “best performance of his life”. That is some statement given at the 2016 Rio Games he broke Ulf Timmermann’s 28-year-old Olympic record and in the 2021 Olympic trials set a new world record of 23.37 metres - he has since improved it to 23.56m - erasing Randy Barnes’ name from the record books after 31 years.

Crouser hails from a family of throwers. Generally to be seen wearing a stetson - a habit from the Oregon native’s university days in Texas - he has taken the event onto another plane. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has been purring about the shot, saying since 2019 it has been compulsive viewing.

Crouser may have been raised in a town called Boring but the opposite could be said of his sporting career. Having toyed with basketball, Crouser may have felt he owed it to his late grandfather Larry to opt for the shot after he launched one effort so far as a youngster it went through the roof of his shed. Korean War veteran Larry would chain smoke while his grandson practiced in his garden.

‘Bass fishing’

Ryan’s father and coach Mitch missed out on appearing in an Olympics—he was an alternate for the US discus 1984 Olympic team—but he has experienced what it is like to win gold thanks to his son’s triumphs in Rio in 2016 then Tokyo in 2021.

“To have multiple Olympians in one family is very cool,” Ryan Crouser said. “You’ve got maybe a basketball family or a football family. But to have a family of throwers who really, truly appreciate the hard work that goes into not only making a team but winning a medal, it’s very special.”

He told Olympics.com earlier this year: “My family is extremely competitive. “No matter what it is—pick-up basketball in the front yard or touch football... even Monopoly is ridiculous. “Nobody wants to lose.”

Mitch has equated his son’s throwing style to a world-class fly fisherman’s: “His feeling for the throw, it’s such an intangible thing.” Fishing is one of the past-times Crouser enjoys away from the circuit, along with practising yoga with his girlfriend Megan and playing with his dog Koda.

Fishing for bass has given him some pointers for his sporting discipline. “If I can give you one tip, if you’re new to bass fishing, it’s slow down,” he said. “I see all these guys going out, and they’re fishing too fast. They’re trying to cover the whole lake at once. So slow down. Pick your points, be precise and be patient.”

Crouser feels he owes the most to grandfather Larry. He was able to tell him he had broken the world record in the Olympic trials—though he had to write it down as by that stage 86-year-old Larry was deaf.

However, his Tokyo gold came a few days after Larry had died and a visibly emotional Crouser instead held up a card reading: “Grandpa, we did it. 2020 Olympic champion.” “That was the last note I wanted to write to him,” said Crouser. – AFP