NANAIMO — Arguably the most decorated athlete to ever come out of the Harbour City is beyond grateful for the support he’s received from his hometown and across Canada.
Ethan Katzberg became the first Canadian to win the gold medal in the men’s hammer throw at the Paris Olympics, recording a distance of 84.12 metres on his first attempt during the medal round on Aug. 4.
Speaking with NanaimoNewsNOW, Katzberg said it’s been an “unbelievable experience” and “a rollercoaster of emotions” since the humble 22-year-old was thrust into the international spotlight following his gold medal win.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee had me doing lots of interviews and lots of stuff for Canada which was great and I was happy to represent the flag. I finally got to get back to some people on social media who have been cheering me on from all across Canada… it’s been amazing to see the support I’ve received from everyone.”
Katzberg and swimmer Summer McIntosh have been named Canada’s flag-bearers for Sunday’s closing ceremonies at the Paris Olympics.
Congratulations and well-wishes began pouring in following his win, from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other Canadian politicians to the former lead singer of iconic Canadian rock band The Guess Who.
“People have been painting pictures and doing drawings and stuff, it’s been incredible the people who have been getting behind what I’ve done in the sport…it feels like it’s just so much more than me throwing hammer, I hope I’m representing Canada well and I think that seeing people really look at me and my story and support me as a Canadian, has been truly incredible.”
“Burton Cummings chiming in, to the running joke that I’m his long-lost relative or something has been really funny,” said Katzberg. (@burtoncummings on X/Twitter)Katzberg posted the top hammer throw result in the Olympic qualifying round on Friday, Aug 2. with a distance of 79.93 metres, securing his spot in the medal round.
Katzberg admits making it through the qualifying round was the most nerve-racking part of his first Olympic experience, but he was able to relax a bit after he qualified, with only one full day off to prepare for the medal round.
While he was “very excited” to make it to the finals, he began to feel some pressure stepping up for his first throw.
“I was nervous before that first throw, I can’t lie, I was really nervous…. after getting that 84.12 metres out there, they pretty much went away and I could really start enjoying myself.”
And his first throw was enough to secure him the gold medal and his place in the history books.
He’s the first Canadian to win gold in the men’s event with the only other medals coming from the 1908 London Games (bronze to Con Walsh) and 1912 in Stockholm (silver to Duncan Gillis).
The world record for the hammer throw is 86.74 metres set back in 1986 by Russian Yuriy Sedykh and the Olympic record dates back to 1988 with a distance of 84.80 metres thrown by fellow Russian Sergey Litvinov.
Katzberg shortly after his gold medal winning hammer throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Tyler Heisterman/Nanaimo Track and Field Club)Early Days
Born in Prince George B.C., his family moved to Nanaimo when Katzberg was still in diapers.
“I was raised there my whole life, all my memories are from Nanaimo, that’s home for me.”
His parents were a very active part of the Nanaimo Track and Field Club (NTFC), and it wasn’t long before Katzberg and his older sister were involved as well signing up for whatever events he could as an eager 14-year-old.
It was right around that time his sister decided to try a new event: the hammer throw.
“She was being coached by my dad, he was learning as much as he could about the hammer, and then I decided to start coming out to their training sessions and it looked like fun. If my sister was doing it, I’m typically following what she’s doing.”
He said he was immediately drawn to the hammer and continued training with his sister and father throughout high school.
Right after he graduated, he was contacted by Olympic bronze-medalist shot putter and future coach Dylan Armstrong, who invited him to train in Kamloops where Katzberg has lived for the last four years.
Only a few days after Katzberg won gold, Richmond native Camryn Rogers became the first Canadian woman ever to win a medal in the hammer throw, when she took home gold with a 76.97 metres throw.
He said he texted her congratulations after the event as they both find themselves at the top of a sport Canada hasn’t made much of an impact in until now.
“I’m so, so happy for her and I got to watch her winning throw… the Olympics holds such a higher standard, it’s the pinnacle of our sport. For her and I to be able to share a gold medal experience together is truly incredible, and it’s really exciting to see two Canadians do so well in the hammer throw.”
Katberg says he “100 per cent” plans to come back home to Vancouver Island to celebrate his win with the people who have been cheering him on, and to make a stop at the place where it all started, the NTFC.
But before that, he plans on taking a well-deserved break.
“I think I definitely need a little vacation… a little getaway. I think I gotta try to get out to Tofino or something and lay out for a few days and just do nothing for a little bit, that sounds nice right about now. It’s been an unbelievable experience, it’s been amazing, it’s also been crazy…it would be really nice to just relax for a few days.”
As of Aug. 9., Katzberg was in Slovakia training to compete in the Silesia Diamond League on Aug. 25, an international track and field meet for top athletes.
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