Crouser retains shot put title at worlds after nearly staying home due to blood clots

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — OK, so, Ryan Crouser didn’t set a new world record. This win felt even better than that.

Just before the American shot-putter was scheduled to leave for the world athletics championships in Budapest, Crouser was diagnosed with two blood clots in his lower leg.

With it safe to fly, doctors left it up to him and his family if he wanted to compete.

He showed up and defended his world title Saturday night with a championship-record throw of 23.51 meters (77 feet, 1 3/4 inches) using a new technique he invented that’s been dubbed the “Crouser Slide.”

Moments after his final attempt, Crouser dropped to his knees and lifted his arms in the air.
Relief.

“After all that it was the best performance of my life, given the health issues, the stress and all of it,” Crouser said. “The last throw was testament to all the hard work and dedication over the last year. The last few days have been hard, so with all that has happened it was a phenomenal throw.”

In a post on social media a day before the start of worlds, Crouser discussed his ordeal and how a scan revealed the blood clots. He wrote that everything went into emergency mode before the medical team “did everything to mitigate them.”

“Biggest questions being, ‘What’s the safest treatment?'” Crouser wrote. “And, “Is WC even a possibility?'”

Crouser set the standard with his first attempt of 22.63 (74-3). No one would catch him as Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri took second and Crouser’s teammate and 2019 world champion Joe Kovacs earned bronze.

With the competition locked up, Crouser went for it on his final attempt. The moment the ball left his hand, he knew he unleashed a good one. The crowd did, too, roaring as it flew. It fell just short of world-record range. He’s broken twice over the past 26 months, with his mark standing at 23.56 (77-3 3/4).

“It wasn’t quite a world record but to me it was,” Crouser said.

There were plenty of spills that punctuated the first day on the track.

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan stumbled and fell in the home stretch of the 10,000 meters, spoiling her bid to win three medals like she did at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“I am keeping my smile but it is really hard,” Hassan said. “I am very disappointed.”

Another tumble featured in the final race of the night, the 4×400 mixed relay. Netherlands runner Femke Bol cramped and fell right before the finish line, her baton bouncing across the finish line as she hit the track. Alexis Holmes went by for a win for the United States.

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