TOKYO -- Ryan Crouser broke an Olympic record while defending his shot put title on Thursday in Tokyo.Crouser ran 23.30 meters (76 ft, 5 inches) on his last attempt to win the first American track and field gold medal at the Tokyo Games. American teammate Joe Kovacs was second, while Tomas Walsh from New Zealand came in third.Crouser, 28, ran 22.52 meters to win the Rio de Janeiro Games 2016.Crouser, who broke a 31-year-old record at the U.S. Olympic trials on June 18, is now the world record holder. He managed to reach 23.37 meters.Crouser won the first attempt in the scorching heat of the Olympic Stadium and kept his best for the final. Crouser clapped, sending chalk dust into air, and was celebrated. For the occasion, he even donned his cowboy cap.Redmond, Oregon - His family and friends joined him for a watch party. They wore "Crouser' shirts and roared with joy when the commentators announced that the "Gold Medalist" had been awarded.After the recent death of his grandfather, Crouser was facing a difficult task. Crouser wrote a touching message on a piece paper: "Grandpa. We did it. We did it. 2020 Olympic champion!
