Building a legacy:
Canadian Hammer Throwing


Hammer throw has been prominently won by older,
Eastern European and American men. However, new
competition seems to be challenging this idea.





Dominated by the USSR and the United States, with legends like Yuriy Sedykh—whose world record of 86.74 meters still stands—and coaching icons such as Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk shaping generations of elite throwers. These nations built an enduring legacy through intense competition and scientific training methods. Today, Canada’s Ethan Katzberg has emerged as a formidable challenger to that history. With powerful technique and composure beyond his years, Katzberg is rewriting expectations, becoming one of the youngest world champion in the event’s history. His rise marks a shifting tide in a sport once thought to be only controlled by Cold War-era giants.












People to Know

Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk
Active from 1969 – 2004Yuriy Sedykh
Active from 1968 – 1995 Dylan Armstrong
Active from 2004 – 2016Ethan Katzberg
Active from 2021 – Present
Soviet Union hammer throw gold medalist. World renowned hammer throwing coach.Current hammer throw world record holder. Two time gold medalist, coached by Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk. For the games Sedykh represented Soviet Union.Canada representing gold medalist in shot put. Coached Ethan Katzberg.Winner of the 2024 hammer throw event. Coached by Dylan Armstrong, Ethan is 22 and these were his debut Olympic games


Description of the image

World Records Held





Soviet Union

United States

Canada 23

8

0






Age of Gold Medal Winners

Looking at the age data for olympic hammer throwing gold medalists, a pattern emerges.








Out of the Ordinary

Only 6 hammer throw olympians were younger than 25 at the time of winning the gold medal. 

89% of gold medal hammer throw winners were over 25 years old.

Ethan Katzberg is the youngest hammer throw gold meadalist in 52 years.

Ethan was Canadas first gold medalist in hammer throw.

Ethan was 22 years old.







“

It is better to throw like a Ferrari than a tractor.   ”

- Anatoliy Bondarchuk











The Future


The future of hammer throwing is bright as Ethan Katzberg leads the mens division.

At the time of his gold medal win, Ethan was 22. Three years younger than Yuri Sedkyh when he achieved his first world record at Leselidze in Russia.

Ethan trained under the two time olympic medalist Dylan Armstrong who was coached by the great Anatoliy Bondarchuk.

Ethan does all of this from a country that has not won a mens division throwing medal in 120 years.

The path Ethan is on is shaping up to build a legacy for hammer throwing that will change the sport forever.






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