Today, we’re diving into the realm of sports, focusing on a figure who has etched his name in the annals of Olympic history. He’s a titan in multiple senses, and you’ve got it right; we’re talking about none other than Team USA’s Ryan Crouser. Crouser has made history as the first athlete to secure a victory in the shot put at three consecutive Olympic games, a feat few can claim.
Tracking his journey from the sunny vistas of Rio to the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, and onto the romantic lanes of Paris, it’s clear to see how Crouser’s presence commands respect. His distinct advantage? It’s quite literally in his hand.
In a recent TV appearance, Crouser revealed the secret behind his competitive edge. He showed off the significant size difference between his right and left hand. His larger right hand is the key, the tool that propels the shot put further than his competitors every time.
Formerly a Texas thrower, Crouser is a man of unique characteristics. For instance, his stature is comparable to a wall, standing at a towering 6-foot-7 and weighing a solid 320 pounds. Imagine the size of his right hand compared to the hand of an average person – it’s colossal, to understate it.
Back. To. Back. To. Back.
Ryan Crouser, three-time Olympic champion.🥇🥇🥇🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/0Twbkg4TCS— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 3, 2024
Crouser’s hand endures immense pressure every time he competes. He described the process, saying ‘Push on the fingertips. It just doesn’t move. So, with 16 pounds going almost 40 miles an hour off the fingertips, you get strong fingertips.’ Clearly, Crouser possesses an incredible amount of strength.
At 31 years old, Crouser isn’t slowing down. He’s eyeing a possible fourth consecutive Olympic victory. He shared his dream, saying ‘That would be the dream as an Olympian – to retire at Olympics on home soil. For me, it would be the fourth. That would be a dream come true.’ He has no immediate plans for retirement.
From Glide to Slide🛝
Even at 16-years-old, Ryan Crouser’s glide was textbook technical mastery.
Ryan would switch to the rotation later in high school leading him on a path to Olympic golds and world records. Last year he added the “Crouser Slide” to take full advantage of… pic.twitter.com/XAVIrE5ni0
— Beau Throws (@beau_throws) July 11, 2024
Imagine being 35 and competing at the Los Angeles games, a full twelve years after winning his first Olympic gold. That’s Ryan Crouser for you. The form his hands will take after another four years of rigorous training could very well secure his place in the Olympic shot put record books for even longer.
2016 Olympic men’s shot put: Ryan Crouser 🥇, Joe Kovacs 🥈
2020 Olympic men’s shot put: Ryan Crouser 🥇, Joe Kovacs 🥈
2024 Olympic men’s shot put: Ryan Crouser 🥇, Joe Kovacs 🥈SALUTE TO THE WORLD’S BEST BIG BEEFY BOYS pic.twitter.com/p3ER3AwKhC
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) August 3, 2024
