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 contest, by no means taking a look again.
In a post-event interview with Canadian Operating, Katzberg mentioned successful Olympic gold is one thing he and his trainer Dylan Armstrong have thought of since successful the sector identify closing yr in Budapest.
“It’s been the one factor we’ve been enthusiastic about the closing one year,” mentioned Katzberg’s trainer, former Canadian Olympic shot-putter Armstrong. “He is aware of he can throw that a long way, and I advised him to take a look at and take keep watch over instantly in order that everybody might hectic up a bit of, and I believe they did.”
Katzberg’s second-best throw of 82.28 metres was once additional than any of the contest, and not using a 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 four.15 meters over Halász was once the biggest within the occasion’s historical past since 1920.
At simply 22, Katzberg is already an athlete most of the different throwers glance as much as. Bronze medallist Kokhan says Katzberg is converting the game and believes that is only the start of ways a lot Katzberg will accomplish. “I’m pleased with Ethan. He motivates me to paintings extra and support myself,” mentioned Kokhan. “He’s going to be right here for a long time.”
Katzberg was once requested by way of Canadian media whether or not he thinks he can sooner or later wreck Yuriy Sedykh’s international report of 86.74 meters, which has stood since 1986. One one who does suppose Katzberg can succeed in the 86-meter mark is Kokhan. “If any person may just do it, it’s Ethan,” he mentioned.
Within the closing two years, the Canadian report holder has long gone from being a 2022 Commonwealth Video games silver medalist to 2023 international champion and now Olympic champion. The long run is shiny for the worldwide throwing famous person from Vancouver Island.
Athletics occasions on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games are going down from Aug. 1-11. These days’s protection is delivered to you by way of Canadian Operating and New Stability Canada. Practice us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Crew Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.
