American Ryan Crouser shatters shot put world record at U.S. Olympic Trials

June 19 (UPI) -- Ryan Crouser broke the men's shot put world record with a throw that traveled 76 feet, 8 1/4 inches (23.37 meters) during the first day of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.

The 28-year-old American topped fellow countryman Randy Barnes' previous record of 75 feet, 10 1/4 inches (23.12 meters), which had stood since May 20, 1990. Crouser also shattered Barnes' indoor record earlier this year.

With the record-setting throw, Crouser punched his ticket for the Tokyo Olympics, where he will have an opportunity to defend his Olympic title this summer.

"The second it left my hand I knew it was good," Crouser said Friday. "... There were so many times that I was throwing a six-pound shot out behind the middle school, throwing by myself, and let it go and put my hands over my head and be like, 'Oh, new world record!' I knew it's been a possibility or potential to do it since 2017."

Earlier Friday, during qualifying, Crouser had a throw of 75 feet, 2 1/2 inches (22.92 meters) to set the U.S. Olympics Trials record.

Among those congratulating Crouser for his historic throw were world champion Joe Kovacs, who finished second, and Payton Otterdahl, who came in third to claim the last of America's three shot put spots for Tokyo.

"There are three or four guys capable of doing that," Kovacs said. "In Tokyo, there are going to be some fireworks. Every year we're talking about the records being broken, and I think there's more to come."