Los Angeles (AFP)
Reigning Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser of the United States set a new indoor world record, beating 32-year-old Randy Barnes with a 22.82-meter throw on Sunday in Fayetteville (Arkansas).
The 28-year-old American, crowned at the Rio Games in 2016, achieved this performance on his first pitch, during the American Track League, a newly created competition.
The previous record (22.66 m) dated from January 1989.
"It's a good start to 2021", commented soberly Crouser, who is the pitcher who most often managed to exceed 22 meters.
His jet landed beyond the landing mat.
After a few minutes of procrastination, the officials were able to measure the throw - 22.82 m -.
After which they added another mat in case this type of performance was repeated.
Good for them as Crouser, after a throw from 21.03m, again reached the "beyond" zone at 22.70m, once again beating Barnes' old mark, but not his successful just before.
His fourth and fifth shots also went far, but were invalidated.
© 2021 AFP