B.C.'s hammer throw is flying high after 2 Olympic golds: coaches

While running events like the 100 metres often garnermuch of the track-and-field attention at the Olympic Games, two B.C.athletes have shone a spotlight on the hammer throw with gold-medal-winning performances in Paris.

On Sunday, 22-year-old Ethan Katzberg from Nanaimo, B.C., became the first ever Canadian to win the gold medal in hammer throw, andbecame the event's youngest Olympic gold medallist in the process.

Two days later, his gold was matched by 25-year-old Camryn Rogers from Richmond, B.C., in the women's hammer throw.

Before this week, Canada hadn't been on the Olympic hammer throw podium in over a century and no Canadian had ever won gold. Now it's only the second country to win gold in both men's and women's events at the same Olympic Games.

WATCH | Ethan Katzberg becomes Canada's youngest gold medallist:

Canada's Ethan Katzberg becomes youngest hammer throw Olympic gold medallist

20 days ago

Duration 3:17

Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C., claimed the gold medal with his first throw of 84.12 at the Olympic hammer throw final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It's proof that the hammer throwhas a bright future in Canada and B.C., according to athletics coaches.

Rogers' former high school coach, Garrett Collier, said the athlete's performance was"surreal to watch" and that it's a culmination of all the hard work she has put in.

"My dad was the first one to kind of discover her, and and pulled her off the track and sent her to the [hammer throwing] ring," Collier recalled.

"By the time I got to work with her, she was a very talkative, very bright young lady who worked very hard she did everything we've ever asked of her and more."

WATCH | Rogers puts on historic performance to win gold:

Camryn Rogers secures gold in women's hammer throw

18 days ago

Duration 0:39

Camryn Rogers wins Canada's second gold in hammer throw at Paris 2024

As a young athlete, Rogers was very gifted and every month it felt like she'd reach a new level, Collier said.

While Rogers went on to train with a different coach, she and Collier remain close.

"My daughters still love it when 'Auntie Cam' comes to visit," he said.

Collier nowruns the B.C. Throws Project, funded by B.C. Athletics.He said the project, which hosts provincial development camps to createa community of throwers in hammer throw, javelin, shot put and discusis helping put athletes on international podiums.

"We're just going to keep building and we're going to capitalize on this success and just keep doing whatever we can to get more of our hammer throwers on the podium," Collier said.

WATCH | Why Rogers' gold medal win was historic:

Breaking down the historic performance by Camryn Rogers to claim hammer throw gold

18 days ago

Duration 6:34

CBC Olympic Games Primetime examines how Camryn Rogers reached the top of the podium and became the first Canadian to ever medal in the women's hammer throw at the Olympics.

Megann VanderVliet from B.C. Athletics is thrilled the province is now on the map when it comes to the hammer throw.

"It's really a testament to the incredible coaches we have and the really strong club system we have in the province as well," she said, pointing out that both Katzberg and Rogers started in their local clubs.

Athletes startthe hammer throw as early as 12 years old, and high school championships allowathletes to move from other sports.

WATCH | Ethan Katzberg jubilant after gold medal win:

Ethan Katzberg on winning gold medal in hammer throw: 'To do it on the 1st throw, you can't beat that feeling"

20 days ago

Duration 2:46

The first ever Canadian to win Olympic gold in the hammer throw, Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C. makes history.

While Rogers was a hammer thrower from the start of high school, Katzbergdidn't start until later.

"It's never too late to pick it up," said VanderVliet, who was a hammer thrower herself and didn't start until her 20s.

"Camryn and Ethan, they just picked it up one day and said, 'I'll give this a try,' and they're nowOlympic champs."

After the momentum built up at the Olympics this year, VanderVliet says the growth can be unlimited as long as there is enough funding to increase capacity in all facilities across the province, not just the major hubs.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport told CBC News that the B.C. government invests $50 million in sport each year. This includes $80,000 toward B.C. AthleticsHigh-Performance Arthlete Support programs, which include B.C. Throws.