For Ryan Johnson, the distance of a throw isn’t the point.

Even as one of the top hammer and weight throwers in the country at the University of Iowa, the junior measures success differently — less by feet and inches, but rather by something that he can’t see on a scoreboard. 

Johnson’s rise at  Iowa has been marked by record-breaking throws and impressive national-level performances. Hailing from Springboro, Ohio, Johnson  holds the school records in the hammer throw and the weight throw. His hammer throw ranks second in this season’s NCAA record books. 

Behind all of the numbers is a shift that has shaped Johnson’s career just as much as any result: learning to compete without letting performances define him. In a sport built on measurable outcomes, Johnson is chasing something less tangible. 

That perspective didn’t come immediately. 

Before the success, Johnson’s path into throwing started in a much different place – on the football field, where he spent years chasing a sport that eventually no longer felt like his own. The gridiron was his home from second grade to high school, until it wasn’t. 

“Freshman or sophomore year of high school, I kind of fell out of love with the sport, and it just wasn’t really my thing anymore,” Johnson said. 

Looking for a new outlet, Johnson found an opportunity through a simple suggestion by a friend. Johnson didn’t touch the ball as a lineman in football. Such wouldn’t be the case in shotput. 

“I was like, ‘What’s that?’” Johnson said. “And he goes, ‘You try to get a metal ball to go as far as you can.’ I was like, ‘That sounds like a good time to me.’”

A year or two later, another introduction was held: the hammer throw. This ultimately changed the trajectory of his career. Just like shot put, Johnson hadn’t heard of the event but quickly recognized its appeal. 

“They were like, ‘It’s like a shot put ball on a wire, and it goes way further,’” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘That sounds like a lot of fun.’”

What began as something fun soon became something serious. Under the guidance of a private coach, Johnson developed from what he called “an OK thrower” into a Division I athlete, eventually beginning his collegiate career at Eastern Michigan University before transferring to Iowa his sophomore year. 

At Iowa, Johnson found more than just a place to continue his career. He found an environment that helped shape the way he approached the sport. 

In a program he describes as a “family” rather than a business, the pressure to perform was replaced with something else. 

“A lot of big DI programs, it’s a business,” Johnson said. “You do good, you’re praised. You do bad, you’re cut. But here at Iowa, we know we’re worth more than our marks or performances.” 

This shift, along with the guidance and knowledge from head coach Joey Woody and throwing coach Ray Robinson, allowed Johnson to focus on something deeper than strength alone. As his career progressed, the difference between being good and being elite became less about physical ability and more about what was happening internally. 

“At this point, it’s basically all mental,” Johnson said. “Obviously being strong is helpful, but once you get to this level, the difference is mental.”

For Johnson, that mental shift has been rooted in his faith. After struggling early in his career with injury and setbacks, he began to find consistency not in results, but in something more constant.

“In high school, I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus, and I tried to do everything myself,” Johnson said. “As I got to college, I started to trust him more, but I only would trust him in the good times. Going into junior year and even now, there’s been good times, and there’s bad times, and trusting him throughout all of it has made everything super consistent.”

While Johnson has climbed the national ranks and established himself as one of the top throwers in the country, his focus has remained largely unchanged.

“I’m here just to compete against myself,” he said. “Just to do the best I can and represent Iowa and represent God in the best light I can.” 

Outside of the ring, Johnson’s life looks a little different than many might expect. A former upright bass player who once considered pursuing music, he now spends time baking recipes passed down from his grandma, keeping him connected to home and close with family. 

Still, his goals remain as ambitious as any in the country. Johnson has his eyes set to win national titles, set world records, and compete in the Olympics for gold. Additionally, he has been named to the Bowerman Award Watch List. The award, given annually to the best collegiate male and female athlete in track and field for the last 16 years, has never been won by a thrower. 

“There’s always got to be a first,” Johnson said.