Canada’s Camryn Rogers stood atop the podium in the women’s hammer throw at the Paris Olympics, securing the gold medal with a powerful throw of 76.97 meters on her fifth attempt. The victory saw Rogers dethrone three-time champion Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland, who finished in fourth place.
The competition was a tight affair, with Annette Echikunwoke of the United States claiming a surprise silver with a throw of 75.48 meters. China’s Zhao Jie secured the bronze medal with a distance of 74.27 meters.
Rogers, at 25 years old, added the Olympic gold to her impressive resume, which already includes the world title she won in Budapest last year. This victory came just two days after her teammate Ethan Katzberg secured the gold medal in the men’s hammer throw.
Echikunwoke, who entered the competition with the ninth best throw this season, briefly took the lead before Rogers stepped up in the fifth round and reclaimed the top spot. The Canadian had already secured victory before her final throw but couldn’t contain her joy until the 4kg hammer left her hand. She then rushed towards her mother, Shari Rogers, a constant presence at all of her daughter’s competitions.
Rogers, who finished fifth in her Olympic debut in Tokyo, followed it up with a world silver medal in 2022 before claiming the world title last year. The 38-year-old Wlodarczyk, the world record holder with a remarkable throw of 82.98 meters, missed out on a medal by a narrow margin.
