By Reuters
New Zealand's athlete Tom Walsh reacts after an attempt in the men's shot put final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 13, 2025. Photo: BEN STANSALL
For the third straight time, New Zealand's Tom Walsh has finished fourth in the shot put at the world track and field championships.
Despite recording a season's best of 21.94m in Tokyo - the same distance as Leonardo Fabbri - the Italian had a better second throw, meaning Walsh, the 2017 world champion, had to settle for fourth place on a countback.
Well clear at the top of the standings was American Ryan Crouser, who completed an incredible world championship shot put hattrick to match his three Olympic golds. After not throwing once all year before the morning qualifying, the American somehow found a 22.34m effort to take gold.
As well as Crouser's mindblowing win, Mexico's Uziel Munoz produced a national record of 21.97 with his final throw to take a shock silver medal.
Crouser, 32, stole the headlines again, with an extraordinary performance, after he was sidelined by an elbow injury for 12 months and was a somewhat controversial selection for the US team.
He gave a hint that he was close to his best with a 21.37m effort in morning qualifying - the first time he had thrown the shot all year.
He improved to 21.41 with his first effort in the final and threw 21.99 with his second. That would have been enough, but he made sure with his fifth to seal a 12th men's gold in the last 16 world championships for the US.
"Every championship has a different aspect to it, but this one is the one I am most proud of," Crouser said.
"This is my first time throwing hard since last September, so I really didn't know what kind of shape I was in. It was kind of 'fake it till you make it' today, so to win a medal with this kind of improper preparation is something I am very proud of.
"There has been a lot of doubt to be honest. We left one of the best shot putters in the world at home so I felt like I owed it to Joe (Kovacs) to come out here and execute."
A delighted Munoz said: "This is the result of hard work for many years. It's been a long and arduous road, first to reach 20 metres, and I have been playing catch-up for some years.
"Consistency, discipline and dedication have been key to this. We are paving the way for the throws in Mexico.
"They were forgotten and we are putting them back on the map."
- Reuters
