DOHA, Qatar — In the hotel of Team USA, track and field isn’t the only thing on the athletes’ minds. Ping pong and Super Smash Bros are also on the agenda.
Olympic shot put gold medalist Ryan Crouser has been struggling since he arrived in Doha … with Super Smash Bros. He had to adjust to the Nintendo Switch after taking years off from playing video games, and his younger counterparts are taking the advantage of that.
“I’m rusty — I like old school Smash,” said Crouser, who is 26 years old. “I look at these kids that are coming out of college that have been playing for, like, years. On the Switch, I’m behind the times with these kids.”
First-time world championship competitor Rai Benjamin, a 400-meter hurdler, compiled a 4-0 record at the ping pong table before a loss put him into an early retirement.
“Everything is amazing,” said Benjamin. “Just to see all of the younger athletes and the older athletes mesh.”
The athletes agreed the best ping-pong player is Chris Mack, the women’s multi-event coach, who has been dominant for years, was undefeated in 2017 and is again, so far, this year.
Crouser had some advice for the newer athletes.
“If any of you young guys want to prove yourselves,” he said, “you’ve got to go down against ‘game’ Mack.”
Team USA has 55 Olympians, 13 Rio Olympic gold medalists and eight world champions. The veterans are helping the younger athletes, such as Benjamin, feel a part of the team.
“There are so many different layers of the team that can inspire us,” steeplechaser Emma Coburn said. “Everyone is really friendly to one another and really get along off the track. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this team.”
