Sam Barlow alum Ryan Crouser wins historic Olympic gold in shotput

Sam Barlow High alum Ryan Crouser became the first person ever to win back to back-to-back Olympic shot put gold medals on Saturday. This has never happened to a local athlete in the Olympics before.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Sam Barlow High alum Ryan Crouser became the first person ever to win back to back-to-back Olympic shot put gold medals on Saturday. This has never happened to a local athlete in the Olympics before.

Although his third throw of 22.9 meters (75.13 feet) was the winner, any of his three throws he didn't fault on would have won the competition.

Before the Olympics, Crouser dealt with one injury after another since aggravating the ulnar nerve of his elbow at world indoors in March.

He said, because of that, this Olympic win meant the most to him.

“This definitely was the sweetest victory of all of them,” the 31-year-old Crouser said. “Just overcoming the questions if I would be able to get to this point again.”

Also celebrating the win, a gathering was held in Portland to send congratulations and good vibes to Crouser. Friends and general well-wishers settled into the auditorium at Barlow High School in Gresham to cheer him on.

According to Principal Jason Bhear, Crouser is an inspiration.

"What a shot in the arm, particularly for a high school our size," he said. "Anybody with any sense of celebrity or concept of celebrity is kind of why educators are in it. It's great to lean on them as citizens and its what we're all about."

Crouser grew up in Boring, Ore. and went to college at the University of Texas. He now lives and trains in Arkansas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.