BC’s Ethan Katzberg dominates men’s hammer throw en route to a gold medal

Ethan Katzberg entered the Olympics as the favourite to win the men’s hammer throw event and did he ever succeed as he became the first Canadian to win a gold medal in the event.

Katzberg is the first Canadian to medal in hammer throw since 1912 and the first to win a gold medal in any throwing event since 1904.

Forever in the history books 🥇

Ethan Katzberg becomes the first Canadian man to win a gold medal in hammer throw at the Olympics 💪#TeamCanada | #Paris2024| @RC_Sports pic.twitter.com/iUeouRT07u

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 4, 2024

The 22-year-old from Nanaimo dominated the event from the start, completing an 84.12m throw in his first attempt, taking a comfortable lead as none of his competition managed to get to the 80m mark.

Katzberg’s second attempt would go 82.28m, which would have also won the competition, with Bence Halasz of Hungary throwing 79.97m and Mykhalo Kokhan of Ukraine placing third overall with a 79.39m throw.

🇨🇦 Ethan Katzberg's gold medal throw (84.12m) is only 16m shy of the entire 100m track. 😳🥇 pic.twitter.com/BKK7fwGyAh

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 4, 2024

The Olympic champion trains in Kamloops under 2008 shot put bronze medallist Dylan Armstrong.

Another special medal was won today as Wyatt Sanford ended Canada’s Olympic boxing medal drought of 28 years.

Wyatt Sanford claims bronze 🥉for #TeamCanada’s first Olympic boxing medal in 28 years 🤩 🥊 https://t.co/mBcj3XglWQ

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 4, 2024

The Nova Scotia native earned a bronze medal after he lost in a split decision to France’s Sofiane Oumiha in a semifinal of the men’s 63.5kg event. Since there are no third-place bouts, two bronze medals are handed out.

The last Canadian to win an Olympic boxing medal was David Defiagbon at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.