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Tokyo Olympics: Ryan Crouser wins gold, sets record in shot put

TOKYO — There is nothing boring about Ryan Crouser. The Oregon native won his second consecutive gold medal in the shot put at the Olympics, throwing a record 23.30 meters in Thursday’s final.

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Crouser, 28, from Boring, Oregon, added gold in Tokyo to his first-place performance at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Crouser achieved his Olympic record-setting throw on his final toss. Crouser’s record-breaker topped his second attempt, which traveled 22.93 meters and was temporarily the Olympic mark.

Crouser’s third attempt traveled 22.86 meters.

Crouser’s American teammate, Joe Kovacs, won the silver medal, while New Zealand’s Tom Walsh captured the bronze.

Crouser already owns the world record in the shot put, The Oregonian reported. The burly 6-foot, 7-inch athlete broke a 31-year record at the U.S. Olympic trials in June when he threw the ball a world record 23.37 meters (76 feet, 8¼ inches), according to The Associated Press.

Before the Games, Crouser said he was aiming to extend his world record to 77 feet.

“It’s always about going out and trying to further my PR. … I think I can go farther. I think 77 is definitely possible,” Crouser told USA Today. “If we can move up to 77 (feet) or even just higher in the 76s then I’ll be happy.”

Crouser did not break 77 feet, missing it by just over 6 inches. But a second Olympic gold medal is plenty of consolation.