Fresh from his world record Ryan Crouser will aim to defend his Olympic title. He will be challenged by an elite level field right up there with the best in history with his greatest challenger his own US teammate. Here’s our men’s shot put preview for Tokyo.
Olympic Schedule
Tuesday 3 August 11:15 UK Time (Qualification) Thursday 5 August 03:05 UK Time (Final)
2021 Furthest Throws
| 2021 Rankings | Distance | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 23.37 | Ryan Crouser | USA |
| 2 | 22.72 | Joe Kovacs | USA |
| 3 | 22.34 | Darrell Hill | USA |
| 4 | 22.22 | Tomas Walsh | New Zealand |
| 5 | 22.17 | Michał Haratyk | Poland |
| 6 | 21.94 | Filip Mihaljević | Croatia |
| 7 | 21.92 | Payton Otterdahl | USA |
| 8 | 21.88 | Armin Sinančević | Serbia |
| 9 | 21.84 | Josh Awotunde | USA |
| 10 | 21.71 | Bob Bertemes | Luxembourg |
British interest
Scott Lincoln is Britain’s sole representative for the event and has thrown 21.28m this year, a mark he managed in Brno. He was third in the European Team Championships and will have hopes of trying to reach the final. He sits third on the British all-time list.
The favourites
Ryan Crouser has won every contest he has been in this year and thrown over 23 metres on two occassions. Only three men in history ever have. The defending champ from Rio, he has perhaps pushed on so far in light of the pressure from his fellow countrymen.
In Joe Kovacs he has a formidable challenger. Kovacs won silver behind Crouser in Rio and is the reigning world champion, a feat he repeated from 2015. He sits fourth on the all time list with 22.91m. His only defeats this year come at the hands of Crouser. He will be pineing to reverse the order in Tokyo in what may be his last chance at Olympic gold (he is 32).
Third this year, Darrell Hill, failed to make the US team meaning Tomas Walsh, the 2017 World Champion, is next on the list. The New Zealander was third in Rio and also in Doha. His 22.90m from Doha is the sixth best of all-time. He has thrown consistently if not spectacularly this year but is bound to be competitive once more. He won the Florence Diamond League.
The last man to have thrown over 22 metres is Michał Haratyk of Poland, who was fifth in the London world champs in 2017. He has thrown over 22 metres in three separate years and will be hoping to peak for Tokyo. The Pole was fifth in the Florence Diamond League but on his day has a chance.
Filip Mihaljevic deserves mention by virtue of his World Indoor bronze in Portland in 2016. He was third in the European Indoors earlier this year and was fourth in Florence.
Tomáš Staněk won the Euro Indoors but has struggled outdoors this season. He also won World Indoor bronze, this time in Birmingham in 2018.
Our medal predictions
- Ryan Crouser
- Joe Kovacs
- Tomas Walsh
Records
WR: 23.37m Ryan Crouser (2021)
OR: 22.52m Ryan Crouser (2016 Rio)
Featured image “Men’s Shot Put victory ceremony” by David Jones is licensed under CC BY 2.0
