Ryan Crouser, despite injury, joins track and field legends with sixth global title in shot put

Ryan Crouser is still the world’s best shot putter, even after nearly five months out of competition and dealing with a long-running injury this season.

Crouser won his third consecutive world title on the first day of the nine-day World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, becoming the fourth American to win six global titles (worlds and Olympics) in any individual event.

The others were Carl Lewis in the long jump, Michael Johnson in the 400m and Christian Taylor in the triple jump. Crouser, who also won the last three Olympic titles, is the first American to win three titles each at the Olympics and outdoor worlds in any individual event.

He did so Saturday with the shortest winning throw of his six global outdoor titles — 22.34 meters — but still distanced silver medalist Uziel Munoz (21.97), who became the first Mexican to win a world medal in any throwing event.

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Crouser, a 32-year-old known for doing more coaching than being coached, owns the five farthest throws in history, including the world record of 23.56 meters from 2023. In this unprecedented run of five consecutive years with an Olympics or world championships, Crouser won all five.

He went into these worlds having not competed since April and not thrown in traditional competition since Sept. 14, 2024. He was sidelined this season due to a tear in an elbow joint capsule that he competed through in 2024.

He’s no stranger to victory through adversity. In 2023, Crouser won worlds with two blood clots in his left leg.

Kenyan Beatrice Chebet added her first world title to her Olympic gold and world record in the 10,000m.

Chebet emerged from among a group of four in the final 200 meters, clocking 30 minutes, 37.61 seconds and beating Italian Nadia Battocletti by 62 hundredths of a second in a repeat of their Olympic one-two.

Next Saturday, Chebet is expected to go head-to-head in the 5000m with fellow Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, the Olympic and world champion and world record holder in the 1500m. Chebet beat Kipyegon in the Olympic 5000m.

Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles open 100m defenses

In preliminary action Saturday, all of the favorites advanced to Sunday’s women’s and men’s 100m semifinals. The finals are also Sunday in a session starting at 5:30 a.m. ET on CNBC and Peacock.

The women’s qualifiers include reigning Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia (10.93 seconds), defending world champion Sha’Carri Richardson (11.03) and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (10.99), the world’s fastest woman of 2025. Plus five-time world 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica (11.09), who says this is her last meet before retiring.

Men’s 100m advancers include reigning Olympic and world champion Noah Lyles (9.95), Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica (9.95), U.S. champion Kenny Bednarek (10.01) and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Marcell Jacobs of Italy (10.20).

In the 3000m steeplechase, Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks was eliminated in the first round. Rooks said he dealt with SI joint issues on and off since the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in early August and that he had congestion the last two days.

In the 35km race walks, the first medal events of the nine-day worlds, Canadian Evan Dunfee earned his first global title in his 13th career senior individual global championship race. Maria Perez of Spain repeated as women’s world champion.

Ryan Crouser is an Olympic and world champion, world record holder ... and coach.