?A Lot About Heat Management?- Ryan Crouser Reveals His Gold Medal Strategy for Shot Put at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Ryan Crouser made history at the Tokyo Olympics by winning the gold medal in the Shot-put event. The American won his second gold medal, throwing a massive distance of 23.30 metres to break the existing Olympic record.?

Through his six attempts, Crouser was the clear winner and never had any doubt in mind over his ability. Coming into this competition, he was the favourite and did not let down on expectations. In his first attempt itself, Crouser threw 22.83 metres which would have won him the gold medal!

While most athletes preserve their best for the last, the American had an effective strategy for his throws. Rather than building up to something, he judged the weather and put all his strength in the first throw itself.?

?My mindset was really good going in,” Crouser said, speaking to Sports Illustrated. “Practice went really well, so today it was a lot about heat management. We knew it would be a long competition and we knew it would be hot.??

?The key was getting a big one early. I managed to do that. I had solidified the win by the end so I got a little more aggressive and chased that bigger throw and finally connected with it,? he said.

Ryan Crouser was the clear winner in the shot put finals

Athletes have been complaining about the heat in Tokyo which particularly took its toll on middle and long stance runners. A tennis match had to be abandoned earlier due to the extreme conditions. Ryan Crouser took all of this into account as he moved towards the shot put finals, obviously understanding the condition in the qualifiers.?

He absolutely dominated the finals, with all six throws breaking the previous Olympic record. Five out of those six defeated silver medallist Joe Kovacs? best throw. Kovacs, also from USA, threw 22.65 m on his fourth attempt which assured him the silver medal. He managed to defeat Crouser in an epic showdown at the World Championships in 2019, Doha but failed to replicate that success.?

Ryan Crouser was far more superior this time around. New Zealand?s Tomas Walsh earned the bronze medal with a 22.47m throw, which meant that the podium looked exactly the same as it was at the Rio Olympics, 5 years ago.?

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