World champion in the hammer throw, Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C. became the the Olympic champion on Sunday, becoming the first athlete to win an Olympic medal for Canada in the event.
Unbeaten in 2024, Katzberg threw 84.12 metres in the first round to win, the second-best Olympic throw in history after Russian athlete Sergey Litinov threw 84.80m in 1958 at the Korea Olympics. Hungary’s Bence Halász earned silver, throwing 79.97m. Halász won the bronze medal at the 2019 and the 2023 World Championships. Mykhaylo Kokhan of the Ukraine took bronze, throwing 79.39m.
“Our plan was to get a good one out in the first round,” Katzberg told Canadian Running.”Katzberg gave credit to his coach Dylan Armstrong. “I’ve got to give a lot of thanks to my prep man over there Dylan Armstrong,” Katzberg said. “He got me ready for this and we prepared for this for a whole year.”
What’s next for the Olympic champion? “We’ve just got to keep training, you know. I’m going to keep pushing myself and see whats possible,” Katzberg said.
In 2023, Katzberg won gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships becoming the first Canadian man to win a world championship medal in the hammer throw event.
Katzberg ventured into the hammer throw seven years ago, after watching his sister compete in the event. He was coached by his dad for several years until Armstrong took him under his wing in Kamloops, B.C.
Chilliwack’s Rowan Hamilton took ninth place, throwing 76.59m. Hamilton came into the Games following a successful first season with the UC Berkeley Golden Bears which saw him win the men’s NCAA title in the discipline – the school’s first male athlete to do so in over 100 years.
Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and PUMA Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.
