Ryan Crouser is no stranger to the spotlight, with three Olympic gold medals and three world championship titles shining brightly in his trophy case. The Portland powerhouse has been a dominant force in shot put, making it tough for competitors like Jamaican Rajindra Campbell to keep pace. But while Crouser has been all about those heavy throws, he’s been a bit quieter when it comes to standing up for causes. That is, until now!

At the Paris Olympics, Crouser decided to change the narrative. Sure, he left Campbell behind in the shot put ring, but in a surprising twist, he threw his support behind the Jamaican team in a whole different event. With Jamaica’s legendary 26 Olympic gold medals in track, they were gunning for a historic 27th, and guess who stepped up to the plate? Roje Stona!

He snagged the gold medal in the discus event by setting up an Olympic record. A huge chunk of that success can be credited to none other than Ryan Crouser. He wasn’t just resting on his laurels—Crouser made the time to attend Stona’s practice sessions at Arkansas Razorbacks, where both athletes honed their skills. Now, thanks to his significant contribution in helping Jamaica make history, the Jamaican Track & Field Coaches Association is rolling out the red carpet for Crouser, honoring him with the Hector-Smith Master Coach award. Talk about a win-win—one athlete shines while another becomes a beacon of support!

The Hector-Smith Master Coach Award is a big deal, named after two legendary Jamaican coaches, Edward Hector and Eldemire Smith. And mark your calendars: Ryan Crouser is set to receive this honor on November 15, coinciding with the annual National Coaches Day. Could this be the moment when the Olympian takes his coaching gig to the next level?

When asked about diving deeper into coaching, Crouser kept it under wraps, but he did share that guiding others fuels his passion for the sport. As a shot putter, he knows all too well the importance of perfecting every little detail. Achieving greatness requires laser focus, which can be a tall order for athletes of all ages. Having been self-coached, Crouser gets it.

That understanding motivates him to mentor the next generation of athletes. “I was in their shoes once, and look at how far I’ve come,” the reigning world champion said, justifying his double role. In fact, he joined the Razorbacks as an assistant coach back in 2019, and he’s still going strong in that position. And there’s clearly a strong connection between Crouser and Roje Stona, as they’ve both got plenty of wisdom and experiences to share.

Ryan Crouser feels satisfied after coaching the ‘talented’ athlete 

On August 8, with Roje Stona’s staggering 4th throw, the joy erupted in both Jamaican and the arch-rival American camp. While the green and black jerseys danced with their athlete, the Stars and Stripes cherished the legend’s role in creating history. Later in the post-match conversation, Stone sang a paean on his ‘coach’. He ultimately said, “You know that Ryan Crouser is already a great guy. He is the greatest shot putter of all time. To work with him it has been a really good feeling. I’m just looking forward to what the future has.” On the other hand, the 31-year-old remained respectful to the Jamaican’s inherent talent 

In the interaction before the Paris Olympics, Ryan said, “It’s been fun working with him [Roje Stona], coaching him and then having somebody to compete against.” Additionally, Crouser mentioned the competitive atmosphere that had come with Stona in the sessions. According to him, that atmosphere might help each participating athlete to stay ahead of the pack.

In Paris, both Crouser and Stona made waves in their respective events, proving that teamwork really does make the dream work. But will there be more joint practice sessions in the future? Well, that’s a question only these two superstars can answer. One thing’s for sure: the chemistry between them has turned heads and could lead to even more Olympic magic down the line!