The Crouser family is synonymously known as the family of throwers in the United States. Ryan Crouser is the second generation of professional throwers in the family.
He is a shot putter and a discus thrower who holds several records in both events. In addition, Ryan is the shot-put world record holder in both outdoor and indoor.
The track and field athlete threw 23.37m (76 feet 8+1⁄4 inches) at the US Olympics trials on June 18, 2021.
He had thrown 22.82 m (74 feet 10+1⁄2 inches) on January 24, 2021, setting the new world record for indoor shot put.
Crouser won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is the reigning Olympic champion for shot put. He threw 22.52 m (73 feet 10+1⁄2 inches) and became the winner.
He was the finalist for Male Track and Field World Athlete of the Year in 2020 as per World Athletics. Crouser threw 22.91 m (75 feet 2 inches) in 2020, gaining the third position in the World All-time list.
Moreover, he had already thrown 22 m (72 feet 2 inches) or higher 104 times in his career by the end of the 2020 season. The record is considered to be the greatest in the shot put history.
Crouser is also the four-time national outdoor shot champion for the United States, gaining the feat in the years 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021. Similarly, he became the USA national indoor shot put champion in 2019 and 2020.
Today, we will be diving deep into this shot put hero’s professional and personal life. Let’s get started!
Quick Facts about Ryan Crouser
| Full name | Ryan Crouser |
| Birthdate | December 18, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Father’s name | Mitch Crouser |
| Mother’s name | Lisa Crouser |
| Sibling | A brother |
| Brother’s Name | Matt Crouser |
| Uncles in track and field |
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| Cousins in track and field |
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| Education |
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| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Relationship Status | In a relationship |
| Girlfriend | Megan Clark |
| Children | None |
| Height | 6’7″ (201 cm) |
| Weight | 145 kg (320 lb) |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Profession | Athlete |
| Sport | Track and Field |
| Event |
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| College Team | Texas Longhorns of the University of Texas |
| Personal Best Records |
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| National Team | United States |
| Medals and Achievements while representing the US |
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| Club | Nike |
| Medals and Achievements while representing Nike | Gold Medals for shot put
Silver Medal for Shot put
Gold Medal for Discus throw
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| Coaching Career | Coached University of Arkansas track and field teams |
| Net worth | $1 Million |
| Social media Handles | Instagram |
| Merch | Poster, Tokyo 2020 Items |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
Ryan Crouser – Early Life and Family
Ryan Crouser, the Olympian, was born on December 18, 1992, in Portland, Oregon, United States. He was born to his father, Mitch Crouser, and mother, Lisa Crouser.
He has a brother named Matt Crouser.
The Crouser Legacy of Throwing
Ryan is a nephew to two well-celebrated throwers Brian Crouser and Dian Crouser. His grandfather Larry Crouser was also into throwing and was a US army national champion.
Ryan’s father, Mitch Crouser, used to be a University of Idaho’s conference champion. He was also placed as the Olympic alternate in the year 1984.
Not to mention, Ryan’s uncles Brian and Dean were throwers at Oregon, and they hold the record in the discus and shot put even today. Brian was also into javelin throw, throwing the javelin in two summer Olympics.
The two built history when they became the first siblings to have won the NCAA titles in distinct events at the common NCAA Outdoor Championships.
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Throwing: In the Crouser Gene
Dean threw 63.22m (207-5) in the discus throw, winning the NCAA title. Brian then won the javelin title with a throw of 83.72m (274-8).
Similarly, Brian won the NCAA discus title again a year later with a throw of 65.88m (216-2), while Dean won the javelin title two years later.
The second generation of professional throwers comprises Ryan and his cousins Sam Crouser (Dean’s son) and Haley Crouser (Dean’s daughter).
Sam Crouser won the NCAA javelin titles twice, subsequently in 2014 and 2015 at Oregon. Haley is also a javelin thrower.
The Crouser family can indeed be considered Royals when it comes to throwing.
Impact and Influence on Ryan
It was inevitable for Ryan to get into throwing. He grew up throwing shot put, javelin, or discus and enjoyed every bit of it.
Every time he felt like practicing any of the events, he used to knock at his grandfather’s door so that he could head to the shot put the ring in the backyard of his grandfather’s place.
When he was in 8th grade, the in-home shot put ring could no longer fit his throws. He remembers when he lost his metal ball and later discovered that it went through the garden shed’s roof.
All the practices before anyone at home and lessons from experienced people at home nurtured Ryan to be the best thrower that the family ever had.
Olympians Home
He once said that he finds it really cool and fascinating to have multiple Olympians at the same home. The entire family has always been supportive of each other’s throwing career.
Likewise, Ryan recalls getting gravitated towards basketball and splitting his time between track and field and basketball. But throwing had to win the race as he discovered that throwing felt much more natural to him.
The family influence and constant engagement in track and field contributed to Ryan Crouser ‘The Olympian’.
You might also be interested in reading: Joe Kovacs Bio: Shot Put, Olympics & Family >>
Ryan Crouser – Early Days of Throwing
Ryan set a national sophomore record with the 3.58 lbs. (1.62 kg) high school discus as he threw 202 feet 6 inches (61.72 m) in 2009 when he was a sophomore at the Sam Barlow High School Oregon.
The mark was broken a year later by his very own cousin Sam Crouser.
Watch Ryan Crouser’s Gold Medal-Worthy Performance here >>
Ryan won both the 5 kg shot and the 1.5 kg discus competition at the National Youth Championships in 2009. He then got selected for the IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy, for both shots put and discus throw.
Similarly, he had broken the discus national high school record with a throw of 72.40 m (6 feet 6 inches).
Ryan Crouser – Collegiate Career
Ryan chose to graduate from the University of Texas, unlike his family’s staple University of Oregon.
He threw his personal best 21.09 m (69 feet 2+1⁄4 inches) at the Big 12 conference championships in 2013. He then threw 20.31 m (66 feet 7+3⁄4 inches), winning his very first NCAA outdoor championship for shot put.
Similarly, he had his hands on NCAA indoor shot put title for the first time in 2014 when he threw 21.21 m (69 feet 7 inches). He stood up as a clear winner, winning by almost four feet.
Crouser then improved his personal best to 21.27 m (69 feet 9+1⁄2 inches), establishing himself as the outdoor master.
Similarly, he won his second consecutive title for shot put at the 2014 NCAA outdoor championships, throwing 21.12 m (69 feet 3+1⁄2 inches.
He then won his second collegiate indoor title with a throw of 21.28 m (69 feet 9+3⁄4 inches.
Ryan Crouser – Professional Career
Crouser improved his personal best in the sport with a throw of 21.85 m (71 feet 8+1⁄4 inches) shortly before he went for the 2016 United States Olympic Trials.
While he made his second throw on finals at the Olympic Trials, he threw a 22.11 m (72 feet 6+1⁄4 inches) and stood up as the World Number 18 thrower ever.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he threw his personal best of all time, 22.52 m (73 feet 10+1⁄2 inches) in the fifth round, breaking Olympic Record. He stood up as the tenth best men’s shot put thrower of all time. Moreover, he was the gold medalist at Rio 2016.
Similarly, Crouser won a silver medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.
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2020 and Later
He is also a two-time champion for USA National Indoor Shot Put in the years 2019 and 2020. Likewise, he is a three-time champion for the USA National Outdoor Shot Put Champion in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Crouser threw a 22.60m indoors in 2020, becoming the second-best performer in world indoor shot put history.
He then threw his personal best with 22.91 m (75 feet 1+3⁄4 inches) in July 2020. He became the third-best performer of all time.
Similarly, Crouser was named a Finalist for Male Track and Field World Athlete of the Year in November 2020.
When 2020 ended, he had already thrown 22m/72-2.5 or higher 104 times in his career.
Crouser made a throw of 22.82 m (74 feet 10+1⁄2 inches), making the new World Indoor Shotput in 2021.
He then threw a 22.70 m (74 feet 5+1⁄2 inches) in the fourth round, breaking the 32 year-long world record.
Ryan Crouser – Olympics Games 2020 Tokyo (in 2021)
Crouser threw 23.37m (76 feet 8+1⁄4 inches), making the new world record for shot put at the 2020 United States Olympic Trials.
He is all excited and prepped to compete in the Olympics. The fact that he set a world record before flying to Tokyo seems quite fascinating to the audience.
Not to mention, the Olympian is pumped up with motivation and confidence to explore new victories at the Japanese capital. We have quoted his opinion regarding the 2020 Olympics:
The main thing at the Olympics or any major championships is winning. I do always want to go out there and compete against myself.
“When I was first going to my first major competition, I was told that you should expect something to go wrong, and that’s been a great quote that’s helped me get through my career.”
The world record that he set in the trials did not come out of coincidence. Crouser had been practicing it since 2017 and also had achieved the feat several times at the practice.
Ryan’s father, Mitch Crouser, who is also his coach, will be at the Olympics. The rest of the Crouser throwers and other family members, however, could not fly to Japan.
It’s a tough competitor here! We wish all the luck to Ryan Crouser. May he succeed in setting the world record again, and may the best one in the crowd win.
Ryan Crouser – Relationship and Girlfriend
Ryan Crouser is in a relationship with Megan Clark. The couple has been dating for quite a few years.
At the same time, Megan is also a track and field athlete. Besides, not much is known about their relationship.
Ryan Crouser – Net Worth
Crouser lives a decent life in his US home. He has earned a pretty good amount already in his 20s.
Ryan Crouser’s net worth is estimated to be above $1 Million.
You might want to read: Clayton Murphy Bio: Wife, Olympics & Net Worth >>
Ryan Crouser – Social Media Presence
Crouser is active on his social media handles. You can follow him via these links:
Instagram – 58.1k Followers
Twitter – 6.8k Followers
Common Queries about Ryan Crouser
Where did Ryan Crouser go to college?
Ryan Crouser went to the University of Texas at Austin, Texas.
Did Ryan Crouser make the world record in shot put?
Yes, Ryan Crouser is a shot-put world record holder. He made the record at the US Olympics Trial with a throw of 76 feet, 8 1/4 inches, or 23.37 meters.
Is Ryan Crouser married?
No, Ryan Crouser is not married. However, he is in a relationship with track and field athlete Megan Clark.
What does Ryan Crouser have to do with Arkansas?
Ryan Crouser works as track and field coach for the University of Arkansas.
