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Aug 5, 2021 - Sports

Ryan Crouser sets Olympic shot put record to win gold for U.S. in Tokyo

Rebecca Falconer
USA's Ryan Crouser celebrates after winning the men's shot put final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo on August 5
Team USA's Ryan Crouser celebrates after winning the men's shot put final during the Olympic Games in Tokyo on Thursday. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images

Ryan Crouser broke his own Olympic record to win gold in the shot put for Team USA on Thursday, with his best throw of 23.30 meters.

The big picture: The 28-year-old from Boring, Oregon, is the first American since 1956 to win back-to-back shot put Olympic events. U.S. teammate Joe Kovacs won the silver medal with a best throw of 22.65. New Zealand's Tom Walsh clinched bronze. Crouser is the current world record holder, throwing 23.37 at the U.S. trials.

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