Reigning Hammer Throw World Champion, Ethan Katzberg, just keeps getting better and better. Hailing from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Katzberg's journey to hammer throwing stardom began at the age of 14, inspired by watching his father coach his sister in the sport. From there he joined the Nanaimo Track and Field Club, but shortly after graduation he moved to Kamloops, where he found mentorship under coach Dylan Armstrong.
Katzberg's athletic ability was evident early on, as he claimed provincial and national championships titles during his time as a student at John Barsby Secondary School in Nanaimo; however, his move to Kamloops to train with Armstrong, a two-time Pan American Games Champion, Commonwealth Games Champion, World Championship Silver and Bronze medalist, and Olympic Bronze medalist, marked a pivotal moment in his career trajectory.
The world began to take notice of Katzberg in 2021, as he made his debut on the international stage at the World Athletics U20 Championships. While he made the final, he finished the competition with no valid throws - this was merely a prelude to the remarkable achievements that lay ahead. By 2022, Katzberg was on the rise, clinching a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games; yet it was in 2023 that Katzberg truly made his mark on the global stage.
A breakout season for the ages saw Katzberg make his way to the very top, claiming victory at the World Athletics Championships with a monumental throw of 81.2 meters. This historic achievement not only secured Katzberg's status as the youngest-ever men's hammer throw World Champion but also marked a watershed moment for Canadian athletics. He became the first Canadian man to win a medal in the event and was part of the Canadian sweep in Budapest that also saw Camryn Rogers win gold in the women's event. Now in 2024, Katzberg has secured a partnership with Adidas and he just opened his season at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya, where he won by unleashing a throw of 84.38 meters, setting a new U23 World Record and Canadian National Record in the process. Not to mention this is the furthest throw in the world since 2008!
As the countdown to the Paris Olympics begins, Katzberg stands poised to etch his name in the record books again. The future looks exceedingly bright for this Canadian sensation.