Nanaimo, B.C.’s Ethan Katzberg made historical past on Sunday night time on the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games, changing into the primary Canadian to win a medal within the hammer throw occasion on the Olympics. Katzberg’s first throw of 84.12 metres put him within the lead for the rest of the competitors, and he by no means appeared again.
In a post-event interview with Canadian Operating, Katzberg mentioned successful Olympic gold is one thing he and his coach, Dylan Armstrong, have considered since successful the world title final yr in Budapest.
“It’s been the one factor we’ve been fascinated by the final 12 months,” mentioned Armstrong, a former Canadian Olympic shot-putter himself. “He is aware of he can throw that far, and I advised him to try to take management instantly so that everybody could tense up a bit, and I believe they did.”
Katzberg’s second-best throw of 82.28 metres was farther than any of the competitors, with no different athlete throwing past the 80-metre mark. Bence Halász of Hungary took silver at 79.97 metres, and Mykhaylo Kokhan of Ukraine threw 79.39 metres for bronze. Katzberg’s successful margin of 4.15 meters over Halász was the biggest within the occasion’s historical past since 1920.
At simply 22, Katzberg is already an athlete lots of the different throwers look as much as. Bronze medallist Kokhan says Katzberg is altering the game, and believes that is only the start of how a lot Katzberg will accomplish. “I’m happy with Ethan. He motivates me to work extra and enhance myself,” mentioned Kokhan. “He might be right here for a really very long time.”
Katzberg was requested by Canadian media whether or not he thinks he can in the future break Yuriy Sedykh’s world report of 86.74 meters, which has stood since 1986. One one that does suppose Katzberg can attain the 86-metre mark is Kokhan. “If anybody might do it, it’s Ethan,” he mentioned.
Within the final two years, the Canadian report holder has gone from being a 2022 Commonwealth Video games silver medallist to 2023 world champion, and now Olympic champion. The longer term is shiny for the worldwide throwing star from Vancouver Island.
Athletics occasions on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games are going down from Aug. 1-11. At the moment’s protection is dropped at you by Canadian Operating and New Steadiness Canada. Comply with us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Group Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.
