Crouser’s shot put record earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Reigning Olympic champion Ryan Crouser (Fayetteville, Arkansas) won the fan vote by a landslide to become the 2nd USATF Athlete of the Week for 2021 after bettering the world indoor record in the men’s shot put.

Crouser, who in 2020 enjoyed possibly the greatest year ever by a male shot putter, showed that he has lost nothing of that fine form as he blasted his first attempt at the American Track League meet in Fayetteville 22.82m/74-10.5 to add 16 cm to the previous world indoor record, set in 1989 by Randy Barnes. He added a throw of 22.70m/74-5.75 in the third round, also better than the previous WR, and a 22.48m/73-9 on his final try to claim three of the top 10 indoor throws ever.

More top performances from last week:

• Athing Mu of Texas A&M set a collegiate indoor record in the women’s 600m with her 1:25.80 at the Aggie Invitational. The previous best was 1:26.56 by Delisa Walton-Floyd of Tennessee in 1981.
• Jim Walmsley bettered the American record in the men’s 100km, clocking 6:09:26 in Chandler, Arizona. Walmsley missed the world record by only 12 seconds while crushing the standing AR of 6:27:44 by Max King in 2014.
• Grant Holloway tied his own American record in the men’s 60m hurdles at Fayetteville with a 7.35. Holloway ran 7.38 in the prelims.
• Gabby Thomas moved to No. 2 on the U.S. all-time list in the women’s indoor 300m, zipping to a 35.92 at Fayetteville.

Now in its 20th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2021 Winners: January 21, KC Lightfoot; January 28, Ryan Crouser.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org.

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Photo: Arkansas Athletics