Ryan Crouser, renowned as the only three-time Olympic gold medalist in shot put history, achieves his monumental throws not just through sheer strength but also via a meticulously crafted diet that defies ordinary culinary norms.
At 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 320 pounds, Crouser’s daily intake surpasses the average man’s by leaps and bounds. In an interview with CNBC, he disclosed his regimen of consuming 5,000 calories each day, double the recommended amount for his age. This dietary feat includes two breakfast burritos packed with nine eggs, sausage or bacon, cheese, sour cream, and salsa on flour tortillas. For lunch, he devours 12 ounces of rice and a pound of lean ground beef with barbecue sauce, often complemented by a full family-sized pizza and a pint of milk for dinner. Such meals, Crouser notes, are crucial in maintaining his body weight and muscle mass, which are essential for his sport.
“I’m always eating something,” Crouser emphasizes, highlighting the necessity of his strict eating schedule, which ensures he never goes more than three hours without food. Even during international competitions where portion sizes may differ, he compensates by supplementing with shakes or additional meals.
Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Boring, Crouser comes from a lineage of athletic prowess. His family history includes notable figures in discus and javelin throwing, influencing his early fascination with the mechanics of throwing techniques. After pursuing studies in economics and finance at the University of Texas, Crouser committed himself to shot put full-time, ultimately setting both indoor and outdoor world records in 2021.
Despite his towering success, Crouser’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Battling injuries and defying his natural build as a taller, leaner individual in his youth, he has transformed into a dominant force in the shot put world. His dedication to training and diet has not only secured Olympic golds but also world championship titles, firmly establishing him as a titan in his field.
In the realm of elite athletics, Crouser’s dietary regime echoes the unconventional appetites of other Olympians like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, whose voracious caloric intake mirrors their insatiable competitive drive. Whether it’s Phelps’ legendary 10,000-calorie intake or Bolt’s reliance on chicken McNuggets during the Beijing Olympics, these athletes prove that behind every extraordinary performance lies a diet equally extraordinary.