Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, British Columbia has won the gold medal in the men’s hammer throw at the 2023 International Association of Athletics Federations World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. Katzberg had a throw of 81.25 metres, which turned out to be a Canadian record.
Wojciech Nowicki of Poland won the silver medal with a throw of 81.02 metres. Bence Halasz of Hungary won the bronze medal with a throw of 80.82 metres. Katzberg earned a medal by 1.25 metres. Pawel Fajdek of Poland finished in fourth place with a throw of 80 metres.
Katzberg’s best throw in the men’s hammer throw final came in his fifth attempt. Katzberg’s sixth throw of 81.11 metres would also have been good enough to win the gold medal.
Katzberg broke his own Canadian record. Katzberg had the initial national record of 81.18 metres in qualification on Saturday.
This is the first time a Canadian man has ever won a medal in the men’s hammer throw at the World Championship. Camryn Rogers of Richmond, British Columbia won the silver medal in the women’s hammer throw at the 2022 International Association of Athletics Federations World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Twice before has a Canadian won an Olympic medal in the men’s hammer throw. Con Walsh of Toronto, Ontario won the bronze medal in the men’s hammer throw at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, and Duncan Gillis of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia won the silver medal in the men’s hammer throw at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. The gold medal will give Katzberg confidence as he prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
