Ethan Katzberg

Ethan Katzberg (born April 5, 2002) is a Canadian hammer thrower and the reigning world champion in that event, winning gold in Budapest at the 2023 World Championships. He previously competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning the silver medal.[3][4]

Ethan Katzberg
Katzberg on the right, at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Personal information
Born (2002-04-05) April 5, 2002[1]
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Height198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight107 kg (236 lb)[2]
Sport
CountryCanada
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Hammer throw
Coached byDylan Armstrong[2]
Bernie Katzberg[1]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)81.25 m (266 ft 6+3⁄4 in) NR (Budapest 2023)[1]
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 BudapestHammer throw
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place2022 BirminghamHammer throw

Career

Katzberg started throwing hammer at the age of 14 after watching his father coach his sister in the event, thinking it looked fun.[5] He initially trained at the Nanaimo Track and Field Club.[6] Following high school he moved to Kamloops to be trained by new coach Dylan Armstrong, a former Olympic shot put medallist.[5] Armstrong said of the new talent then that he was "a skinny basketball player when I got him. What really stuck out, obviously, was his height and his speed. That’s a rare combination. It’s hard to find a fast, tall, co-ordinated guy that may have some interest in throwing — they all go to basketball, football or other sports."[5]

Making his major international tournament debut at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships, Katzberg qualified to the hammer throw final but finished last with no valid throws. He won a silver medal in the hammer throw event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.[7]

Katzberg enjoyed early success on the international competitive circuit in 2023, notably winning gold when the Diamond League held a promotional mixed-gender hammer throw event at the 2023 Meeting de Paris.[8] He won his first Canadian national title months later. Competing in his first world championships in Budapest at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Katzberg qualified for the finals with the best throw and a national record of 81.18 m (266 ft 4 in). Katzberg threw a 81.25 m (266 ft 6+3⁄4 in) on his fifth throw, setting another new national record and winning the gold medal and world title.[9] Katzberg's victory made him both the youngest ever men’s hammer throw medallist and world champion, and the first Canadian man to win a medal in the event. His victory ended the reign of five-time world champion Paweł Fajdek who finished fourth, while he also defeated Wojciech Nowicki, the reigning Olympic champion.[10][9] Katzberg was part of a Canadian sweep of the hammer events in Budapest, along with Camryn Rogers' victory in the women's event.[11][12]

Personal bests

International competitions
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
2021 World U20 Championships Kasarani, Kenya – Hammer throw NM
2022 Commonwealth Games Birmingham, England 2nd Hammer throw 76.36 m
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 1st Hammer throw 81.25 m

References
  1. "Athletics Canada Profile - Ethan Katzberg". Athletics Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. Mary Hastings (May 5, 2022). "After eye-popping throw, Katzberg takes aim at major international events under Armstrong's tutelage". Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. "2022 Birmingham Results: Men's Hammer Throw - Final: Sat, 06 Aug - 11:48 (Finished)". 2022 Commonwealth Games. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. Davidson, Jordan (12 August 2022). "Local hammer thrower brings home silver medal from Commonwealth Games". The Beach. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. Gillespie, Kerry (August 20, 2023). "'Skinny basketball player' Ethan Katzberg gives Canada its first gold medal in the hammer throw". The Toronto Star.
  6. Marshall, Dan (3 June 2021). "Nanaimo's Ethan Katzberg sets Canadian hammer throw record twice in one month". CFJC Today. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  7. Dheensaw, Cleve (6 August 2022). "Nanaimo's Ethan Katzberg wins silver in Commonwealth Games hammer". Times Colonist. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  8. Barnes, Dan (12 June 2023). "Canadian hammer throwers keep nailing it on international scene". The Toronto Sun. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  9. "Canada's Ethan Katzberg wins hammer throw gold medal at World Athletics Championships". CBC Sports. August 20, 2023.
  10. "Katzberg ends Fajdek's reign as world hammer champion in Budapest". World Athletics. August 20, 2023.
  11. "Camryn Rogers claims hammer throw gold, becoming 1st Canadian woman to win world title in 20 years". CBC Sports. August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  12. Russell, Scott (August 24, 2023). "Camryn Rogers, Ethan Katzberg at forefront of Canadian renaissance in throwing events". CBC Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2023.


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