Photo via @WorldAthletics/Twitter
The Kamloops Track and Field Club has a World Champion.
Hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg – who is from Nanaimo but trains in Kamloops – won the gold medal at the 2023 World World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary yesterday.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” Katzberg told CBC Sports, following his win. “To come up for my first World Championships and become World Champion with a national record on top of it, it is a very very good feeling.”
Katzberg’s winning throw of 81.25 metres broke his own national record of 81.18 metres set during Saturday’s qualifying round. He had had never thrown over 80 metres before the event, but is now the youngest ever men’s hammer throw medallist and world champion in history.
He also beat reigning Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki of Poland, by 0.23 metres.
“WOW! What a throw!”
Ethan Katzberg’s golden throw at #Budapest2023 was HUGE pic.twitter.com/6yuWhldEh6
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 20, 2023
Katzberg, a silver medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, eclipsed 80 metres on four of his six attempts in Sunday’s final.
“My coach, [2008 Olympic bronze medalist] Dylan Armstrong, told me to go for it,” Katzberg said of his throw during the CBC interview. “I had 80 metres, so he told me ‘you know, you gotta go for it. Don’t hold back’ and I tried my best to do that and I think it worked out okay.”
The 21-year-old has been knocking on the door of the world’s best in the last year, as he eyes a strong performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. He’s improved his best throw by over 25 metres, going from 55.72 metres in 2019 to his current 81.25 metres.
“This is the first time a Canadian man has medaled in this event,” the Kamloops Track and Field Club, said in a statement. “Ethan, your home Club and Kamloops could not be more proud.”
“Congratulations Ethan and Coach Dylan Armstrong. We can’t wait to show all of the kids that Gold medal!”
Ethan Katzberg won gold in his debut at the World Athletics Championships 🥇
The Canadian spoke to @AndiPetrillo after his big win about how it all feels 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/v2hKHbHprX
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 20, 2023
Fellow Kamloops Track and Field Club member, Greg Stewart, also won a Paralympic gold medal in the F46 shot put event at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
