Brian Crouser
Encyclopedia
Brian David Crouser is a retired male javelin throw
er from the United States
, who twice (1988 and 1992) competed at the Summer Olympics during his career.
in Munich, Germany. He immediately became interested in the throwing events, practicing the shot, discus
, and javelin
, in his backyard in a quiet, suburban, neighborhood in Gresham, Oregon
. Brian attended Gresham High School, and participated in track and field
. In 1981, while attending Gresham, Brian became the first boy to win the state championship in all three throwing events (Shot-put, Javelin, and Discus).
in Eugene. He accepted, and began his college career in 1982. Crouser quickly made a name for himself at Oregon, when he became the first college freshman ever to win the NCAA javelin title, with a mark of 274'7". That throw earned Brian a top-three national ranking.
Battling injuries his sophomore and junior track seasons, Crouser was able to pull through, and win the Pac-10 javelin crown his junior year with a toss of 272'7". He was able to repeat this his senior year, where he once again won the Pac-10 javelin championship, with a throw of 283'8".
On May 5, 1985, Brian set an all-time collegiate record with a throw of 312'0".
He began treatment and had surgery on April 18, within a week of the diagnosis. Crouser, during his stay at Bess Kaiser Hospital, with the eternal love of throwing, was often seen practicing his steps and crossovers in the halls. Brian's determination and perseverance was demonstrated when he was presented with a clean bill-of-health in late May, 1986.
The first year the new javelin implement was introduced, Crouser became the world-record holder, with a throw of 262'0".
. He went on to represent the United States, and place in the World's top thirty athletes at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
.
Crouser trained for the next four years, and he made the 1992 U.S. Olympic team
in Barcelona
. He again placed in the world's top thirty athletes.
, with his wife Laurie, and his two boys, Cory and Cody. He lives just miles from his childhood home.
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
er from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who twice (1988 and 1992) competed at the Summer Olympics during his career.
Biography
Brian Crouser was born to Larry and Marie Crouser, in early August 1962. At the age of nine, Brian witnessed a life-altering event. This event was the 1972 Summer Olympics1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich, Germany. He immediately became interested in the throwing events, practicing the shot, discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
, and javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
, in his backyard in a quiet, suburban, neighborhood in Gresham, Oregon
Gresham, Oregon
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile...
. Brian attended Gresham High School, and participated in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In 1981, while attending Gresham, Brian became the first boy to win the state championship in all three throwing events (Shot-put, Javelin, and Discus).
College
After graduating high school, Brian was quickly offered a full-ride scholarship by the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene. He accepted, and began his college career in 1982. Crouser quickly made a name for himself at Oregon, when he became the first college freshman ever to win the NCAA javelin title, with a mark of 274'7". That throw earned Brian a top-three national ranking.
Battling injuries his sophomore and junior track seasons, Crouser was able to pull through, and win the Pac-10 javelin crown his junior year with a toss of 272'7". He was able to repeat this his senior year, where he once again won the Pac-10 javelin championship, with a throw of 283'8".
On May 5, 1985, Brian set an all-time collegiate record with a throw of 312'0".
A Setback
Crouser was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1986, which was in the middle of his senior year at Oregon.He began treatment and had surgery on April 18, within a week of the diagnosis. Crouser, during his stay at Bess Kaiser Hospital, with the eternal love of throwing, was often seen practicing his steps and crossovers in the halls. Brian's determination and perseverance was demonstrated when he was presented with a clean bill-of-health in late May, 1986.
The first year the new javelin implement was introduced, Crouser became the world-record holder, with a throw of 262'0".
Olympian Emerges
After graduating college in 1986, Crouser immediately set his sights on making the 1988 Olympic team. He continued training, and in the summer of 1988, he placed in the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He went on to represent the United States, and place in the World's top thirty athletes at the 1988 Summer Olympics
United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. 527 competitors, 332 men and 195 women, took part in 230 events in 27 sports.- Gold:* Jay Barrs — Archery, Men's Individual Competition...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Crouser trained for the next four years, and he made the 1992 U.S. Olympic team
United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Michael Marsh — Athletics, Men's 200 metres* Quincy Watts — Athletics, Men's 400 metres* Kevin Young — Athletics, Men's 400 m Hurdles...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He again placed in the world's top thirty athletes.
Personal life
Crouser currently resides in Troutdale, OregonTroutdale, Oregon
Troutdale is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, north of Gresham and east of Wood Village. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,962....
, with his wife Laurie, and his two boys, Cory and Cody. He lives just miles from his childhood home.
Achievements
| 1988 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul a total number of 42 events in athletics were contested: 24 by men and 18 by women. There were a total number of 1617 participating athletes from 149 countries.-Men's events:... |
Seoul, South Korea | 29th | 72.72 m |
| 1992 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992 to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders... |
Barcelona, Spain | 21st | 74.98 m |