Athletics: Awkward moments, as American Ryan Crouser gatecrashes Tom Walsh's party

Tom Walsh is New Zealand's latest world champion with a gold in the shot put at the World Athletics Championships in London. Photo: Getty Images

Tom Walsh's surprise shot put victory at the World Athletics Championships - and his rivals' reaction to it - may leave some strained relations for the remainder of the northern summer.

The Kiwi upset defending champion Joe Kovacs and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser with his final-round 22.03m throw in London, having lead for most of the competition. Kovacs finished second and Crouser was out of the medals, but both protested big throws ruled foul that they considered legal.

But while Kovacs accepted his defeat, Crouser clearly did not, even turning up to the medal ceremony in full dress uniform, still hoping for promotion onto the podium.

"The thing that disappoints me is the way Crouser went about it," Walsh told stuff.co.nz from London. "Joe took the answer that they gave him the first time and was like, 'cool, they've made a decision, so that's that'.

"To be honest, if I was in their position I would have done the same. It [the call] was close.

What a great last few days. Starting to sink in now 🏅🏅🏅 #worldchamp2017 pic.twitter.com/y36q2mfKOH

— Tom Walsh (@TomWalshSP) August 10, 2017

"But the way Crouser went about it 24 hours afterwards, turning up to the warm-up track just before our medal ceremony in his podium attire ... I saw him and was like, 'what's going on? Am I meant to know something?'

"It was just the wrong way to go about it, in my opinion and I know a lot of other guys around the circuit think the same. In the medal ceremony room before we went out, we still didn't know [what was happening].

"It wasn't only going to affect me, it was also going to affect Joe and [Croatian Stipe Zunic], who was winning his first ever medal (at a major championships), and that meant a hell of a lot to him."

Crouse and Walsh have enjoyed a great relationship on tour - the American visited New Zealand earlier this year to compete and enjoy some hunting - but that may change in the aftermath of this result.

"I'm not going to hold a grudge," said Walsh. "If he still wants to talk about it, I'm not going to talk about it.

"For me, it's over and Ryan might figure out in a little bit of time that he acted not in the right way. Sometimes that takes longer for some people to realise than others."

Meanwhile, a scan on Walsh's groin has confirmed the New Zealand shot putter won gold with a tear in his groin.

Originally thought to be a small strain, an MRI scan showed a seven centimetre tear.

Walsh will receive daily treatment and will do modified training.

It's not yet clear if the Rio Olympic bronze medallist will compete in the Birmingham Diamond League event on August 20, but he plans to work towards a meet in Zagreb on August 29 and be nearing top shape for the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 1.

A cheque of $68,000 is given to the winner of their respective discipline at the Diamond League final, where Walsh is defending his shot title.

What a great last few days. Starting to sink in now 🏅🏅🏅 #worldchamp2017 pic.twitter.com/y36q2mfKOH

— Tom Walsh (@TomWalshSP) August 10, 2017