For the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympics the U.S. has won two medals in the men’s shot put competition, with Ryan Crouser taking gold and Joe Kovacs silver.
Crouser’s fifth attempt of the night measured 73 feet, 10 ¾ inches (22.52 meters), both winning him the gold medal and establishing a new Olympic record. Kovacs, whose first attempt of the day measured 71 feet, 5 ½ inches (21.78 meters) and was good enough to take silver, looked to pass that the mark established by Crouser but fell short.
Crouser did take his sixth attempt in hopes of both surpassing his newly established Olympic record and making a run at the world record (23.