Athletics-A world record would be perfect final Olympic tune-up for in-form Crouser

LONDON (Reuters) - American Ryan Crouser hinted a world shot put record could be on the cards at the London Diamond League meeting on Saturday in what would be an ideal final tune-up before he aims for his third Olympic gold medal in Paris.

The 31-year-old has broken the world outdoor record twice, most recently with his throw of 23.56 metres in May 2023.

"I know it has a chance of being a world record before (the shot) even leaves my hand," Crouser told reporters on Friday. "If I can make it through the 'don't mess it up phase', I know I'll be in pretty good shape.

"If the world record comes it'll be the later rounds. If the crowd is louder then we'll have bigger throws."

Crouser -- whose neighbours in Farmington, Ark., dressed in USA gear and waved American flags in an Olympic send-off this week -- said he is finally fit after being hampered by an elbow injury ahead of the U.S. team trials last month.

"I feel good and I'm rounding into shape ahead of the Olympics. There's been an upward trend since trials as I was unproven (with injury) before then," he said. "It's been a frustrating year to say the least. At 31 I probably don't want to admit I needed to slow things down.

"When I was younger I was throwing consistently well in training but wasn't hitting the positions in the meets," he added. "Now in my 30s I don't throw as far in training but I know that I'll throw better and peak in the meet."

Crouser is part of a star-studded lineup for the final Diamond League meet before the Olympic athletics competition begins on Aug. 1.

Reigning world champion Noah Lyles of the U.S. headlines a stacked men's 100-metre race that includes South Africa's Akani Simbine, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Ackeem Blake of Jamaica and Britons Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe and Zharnel Hughes.

Femke Bol of the Netherlands will race the women's 400m hurdles ahead of her much-anticipated Olympic showdown against American and reigning Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

McLaughlin-Levrone beat her own world record at the U.S. Olympic trials in June, clocking a sizzling 50.65 seconds, and then Bol responded by running a personal best 50.95 last week.

"In all honesty, if you said to me a couple of years ago we'd be running sub-51 seconds in the 400m hurdles, I wouldn't have believed you," Bol said. "It makes you dream big."

Bol said she and McLaughlin-Levrone, who share the same sponsor in New Balance, are on friendly terms.

"We both realise that the 400m hurdles is a tough event and I have a lot of respect for her," the 24-year-old Bol said.

Some 58,000 fans are expected for Saturday's meet.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Toby Davis)