American throws 22.34m to win men's shot put title on Saturday in Tokyo as Scott Lincoln finishes a fine eighth for Britain.

On a warm opening evening at the World Championships in Tokyo, Ryan Crouser came into the men’s shot put final cold after not having competed all year due to injury. But the world record-holder sealed his third consecutive world title with a dominant performance against stiff opposition from surprise package Uziel Muñoz of Mexico, plus Leonardo Fabbri of Italy and Tom Walsh of New Zealand.

In eighth, Scott Lincoln finished a great day to come eighth with 21.00m – the furthest-ever throw by a Brit at a major champs. It was his second 21-metre throw of the day, too, after having thrown the same distance in qualifying on Saturday morning.

Prior to this, the longest throw at a major championship by a British male shot putter was courtesy of Geoff Capes, who threw 20.95m to win the European indoor title 51 years ago.

Crouser has struggled all year with a trapped nerve in his elbow, which means Tokyo was his first competition in 2025. He looked like he’d never been away from the circle either as he threw a best of 22.34m to win as Muñoz threw an inspired last-round Mexican record of 21.97m to take silver.

Fabbri and Walsh were very much part of the hunt for gold but had to wind up with bronze for Fabbri and fourth place for Walsh with 21.94m each.

Walsh had led the competition with 21.58m in the first round but Crouser went into the lead in round two with 21.99m as Fabbri also showed how dangerous he is with a 21.83m in round two.

The competition then came alive in round five when Walsh and Fabbri threw 21.94m but Crouser responded with a big 22.34m effort to considerably lengthen his slim lead.

The big American slapped his hands with pleasure and raised his fist triumphantly, as he knew at that point he was unlikely to be passed.

As Crouser paced around, preparing to celebrate victory, Muñoz edged past Fabbri and Walsh with a breakthrough performance to take a surprise silver. Lincoln, meanwhile, should be proud of making the top eight and showing the consistency to throw 21.00m twice in a day – at different times of the day.

Lincoln, who changed his training set-up by moving to Australia in the past year, was clearly pleased with his day and told AW that he’d previously considered himself to be a borderline finalist (that is, top eight) but after this breakthrough his mentality and ambition could change.

"I am a little bit battered at the moment, but nothing a few beers won’t solve," said Lincoln.

"Apparently, that is the furthest a Brit has thrown in a major, and I just backed it up in the final with exactly the same distance. It is a massive step forward. Confidence is flying high, shame it is the end of the season now. Time to build from here, I don’t think next year I will be far away from winning that. We shall see how we go, exciting times ahead.

"We are always on the first day, always morning and evening. It is a nightmare to be honest. Could do with a day in between, but that’s the cards we are dealt. It was just about rolling the dice this evening, and seeing what we can do. I felt like I held my own and had some fun with some of the best throws I have ever had, I will take it."

Crouser said: "Every championship has a different aspect to it but this one is the one I am most proud of. This is my first time throwing hard since last September last year, so I really didn't know what kind of shape I was in. It was kind of a fake it till you make it today.

"I have been very limited with the number of my throws, very limited with distance and speed work. 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. Now my career is taking a little bit of a back seat. My wife is a doctor and started her residency programme so we are moving houses and I'm trying to start a new training group."