Ryan Crouser doesn't get enough love. Do you realize he also also coached Roje Stona to Olympic discus gold?

First time I ever heard the name Roje Stona, so no I didn’t realize.

I really like Crouser. He's obviously the GOAT in shotput and arguably the strongest clean male athlete in the world. If you follow his YT channel, he does some absolutely RIDICULOUS lifts and jumps. The first time I saw him jump I couldn't believe a big dude had that much spring.

I've always thought distance runners and throwers have a lot in common. They don't do a cool sport. Their sport is all about grinding in obscurity and optimizing physiology to get 1% gains. They both kind of have an underdog mentality.

Ryan posts a substantial amount of his training on his YT channel. It's amazing to me that he is self-trained. His program seems very smart and he obviously has a good system.

Where I went to college (and HS for that matter), the distance runners always hung out and partied with the throwers. Had a lot of great times.

Thanks for pointing out Ryan's "re-vamped" Youtube and Social Media presence. He's truly a remarkable guy and the shot put GOAT. While Ryan is a beast, I think even Ryan would tell you the world's strongest "drug tested" man is the so many times silver medalist Joe Kovacs

Story on Joe:

Crouser has stated his strength numbers are not as good as those of some others - Joe Kovacs, perhaps, who is built like a ball bearing. And I hope and think that both are clean. Crouser also said not too many years ago that he rarely tries for a maximum lift and that his max lift numbers came many years ago.

.....

I remember Ryan all the way back to his high school days when he was destroying high school competition 👍 💯 and years later Olympic and World supremacy . Shotput GOAT 🏆 .

I'm not the first to say it, but Crouser is very generous with his training on the socials. I tell every thrower to follow him, because I'm technically the distance coach.

But the reason we don't give him as much love on this site is...well, it's called LetsRUN.

I really like Crouser. No ego, just puts in the work to get to #1, and then doesn't stop grinding once he's there.

Crouser was very enthused and animated in Paris when Stona unleashed that winning discus throw.

I was annoyed. I was rooting for Alekna. He had the lead early. But it was like a few of Valerie Allman's near misses at world championships. Even if you lead early it's not safe unless you get it out there beyond 70 meters. Otherwise you leave the door open for a career throw stealing it away from you.

Stona will probably end up being a one-hit wonder. He hasn't won a competition since the Olympics.

Dr. Megan Clark.

Please do not belittle her accomplishments!

Crouser has been one of my favourite athletes since I noticed him. I always look forward to seeing him in action.

Ultimate Championship later this year in Budapest not having his event, is another reason why I am skipping it.

Only two T&F athletes have 4 consecutive Olympic golds: Carl Lewis (long jump from 1984–1996) and Al Oerter (discus from 1956–1968). If Crouser gets it done in LA 2028, he will be the third (shot put from 2016–2028).

I wish him well also. The obvious concern is that his body may have another 2+ years in it at this level.

I hope he does.

I think I heard this concern 2 other times. 1968 and 1996.

haha, that might be universal. was the exact same for me in JUCO

They were valid concerns back then also…

It kind of depends on how you define strongest.

For me, anyone that wins the shotput 3X at the olympics is the strongest. The shotput is the olympic event that is the greatest test of strength. Almost by definition, if you win the shot, you are the strongest person in the world.

Crouser is also just so big, I know he doesn't do max lifts like Kovac, but Ryan is huge and probably has 25 pounds on Kovacs. 25 lbs is a lot of mass.

Crouser is physically massive and undeniably the goat shot putter, but kovacs gym numbers are absolutely insane. He’s done stuff like 705 squat for 10, 700lb board press for 2, and a 600 lb jerk. I’d say kovacs is more physically disadvantaged than crouser in the shot due to his height and leverages, but makes up for it with immense strength. He’s second only to crouser in the sport for a reason