4 August: Nanaimo, B.C. native Ethan Katzberg made history at the Paris Olympics by clinching the gold medal in the men’s hammer throw with an opening Olympic record of 84.12 metres. The 22-year-old’s impressive performance on Sunday at Stade de France ensured Canada’s first-ever gold in the event, marking a significant achievement for the nation.
Katzberg’s exceptional throw set the tone for the competition, and he remained unchallenged throughout. “I wasn’t sure if I would win gold, but I prepared to give it my best from the start,” Katzberg shared. “It felt really good. I aimed to improve my distance with each throw, but fortunately, 84 metres was enough.”
The reigning world champion also delivered the second-best throw of 82.28 metres, with no other competitor crossing the 80-metre mark. “My training leading up to this made me confident I could achieve something around 84.00m,” Katzberg told CBC Sports. “To do it in the first round is an unbeatable feeling.”
Katzberg, unbeaten in 2024, is now the youngest-ever Olympic champion in the hammer throw event. Bence Halasz of Hungary claimed silver with a throw of 79.97 metres, while Mykhaylo Kokhan of Ukraine took bronze with 79.39 metres. Kokhan expressed satisfaction with his medal and praised Katzberg’s outstanding performance.
Canada’s Rowan Hamilton finished ninth with a throw of 76.59 metres, after securing second place in the qualifying round on Saturday, behind Katzberg. This victory ends a 112-year drought for Canada in Olympic hammer throw medals, following Duncan Gillis’s silver in Stockholm 1912.
The Paris Olympics saw fierce competition, with defending Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki finishing seventh and five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek, also from Poland, placing fifth.
Katzberg’s record-breaking achievement not only brings glory to Canada but also solidifies the nation’s growing reputation in the throwing events at the Olympics.
