For an astonishing third time, former Longhorn Ryan Crouser has won a gold medal in shot put at the World Athletics Championships, cementing himself as the world’s top thrower once again. After previously winning gold at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, the Texas legend completed a three-peat at the 2025 event in Tokyo.
While accomplishing this feat adds to Crouser’s resume as one of the greatest to ever compete in shot put, this year’s win did not come without its fair share of adversity. Crouser nursed an elbow injury all year, and this competition was his first time throwing hard since last September.
He had an uphill climb to defend his championship.
“I felt like it was kinda riding a bike,” Crouser said. “I was making some mistakes early, but really happy with how I competed.”
At the start of the event, it was evident that Crouser was trying to shake off the rust that comes with starting the season at the World Championships. He failed to break 22 meters in his first four throws, but as he stepped up for his fifth, he hyped up the crowd, looking to draw energy from a packed National Stadium. Crouser then proceeded to record a put of 22.34 meters, securing a first-place finish.
“It was a sigh of relief,” Crouser said.“A lot of times, if I am throwing well, I know exactly how far it’s going. Tonight, I didn’t really have that feeling quite so much because I don’t have those high intensity reps.”
The 2025 win put him in elite company, making him just the second competitor to ever win gold for shot put at three consecutive World Athletics Championships, and the first since 1993, when Swiss shot putter Werner Günthör completed his three-peat.
Crouser is the most decorated shot putter of all time. He has not only won three World Athletics Championships gold medals, but has also won three Olympic gold medals and a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships.
As a Longhorn, he was a four-time NCAA Shot Put Champion and an eight-time Big 12 Shot Put Champion. Despite the loaded trophy closet, Crouser has his eyes set on more hardware.
“At 32, if I can be banged up and open my season with a World Champs win, hopefully 33, 34 and 35 will be a little easier,” Crouser said.
Crouser will be 35 in 2028 when the Olympics come to Los Angeles, where he will look for his fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. It will be difficult to maintain his health, but if this year’s championship was any indication, Crouser will always have a fighting chance to go for gold.
