World hammer champion Rogers becomes Olympic gold medallist in Paris

Camryn Rogers matched the achievement of Canadian teammate and fellow hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg, adding the Olympic gold medal to her world title at the Paris 2024 Games on Tuesday (6).

Rogers won with 76.97m after battling brilliantly throughout, first seeing off the challenge of China’s Zhao Jie, who eventually took bronze with 74.27m, and then from USA’s Annette Echikunwoke, who claimed silver with 75.48m.

Rogers took an early lead with 74.11m, but it was short lived because Zhao responded with 74.27m in round two to take the lead. Rogers recorded a foul in that round, but responded with 74.47m with her next throw to regain the lead.

It was short lived, though, as Echikunwoke, the surprise US champion, sent her hammer out to 75.48m to leapfrog Rogers and Zhao.

Rogers came close to that with 75.44m in round four, but she then produced her winning throw of 76.97m in round five to put the lead out of sight from her opponents.

Echikunwoke and Zhao held on to silver and bronze respectively, while three-time Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk came within four centimetres of the podium, placing fourth with 74.23m.

The Pole finished just ahead of Finnish duo Silja Kosonen (74.04m) and Krista Tervo (73.83m), which Azerbaijan’s Hanna Skydan was seventh with 73.66m.

USA’s 2019 world champion DeAnna Price, who has thrown 77.16m this season, finished down in 11th place with 71.00m, while European champion Sara Fantini was one place lower.

No women from North America had ever won an Olympic hammer medal before today, but the continent landed gold and silver in Paris. Zhao, meanwhile, adds to China’s Olympic medal tally and extends a medal streak that began in 2008.

“To be on that podium and to hear the national anthem is something that I’ve dreamed of for so long,” said Rogers. “I started throwing 12-and-a-half years ago, the summer of the London 2102 Olympics. Watching our Canadian women out there, doing their absolute best and representing our country so well, made me want to be here one day.

“That fifth round throw was a do-or-die moment,” she added. “To be able to do it when it counts, in that throw, and to see my coach cheering from the stands – this is the kind of thing we’ve been training for. I’m just glad I was able to make him proud in that moment of having all of our training lead to this.”

Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

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