Ethan Katzberg trains in Kamloops (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

HAMMER THROW

Kamloops’ Ethan Katzberg stares down Olympic dreams as reigning world champion

Nov 21, 2023 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The past few months for Kamloops’ Ethan Katzberg have been a whirlwind — almost comparable to the windup he’s perfected. Katzberg became both the Pan Am and world champion, surpassing 80 metres for the first time.

“The emotions are a little crazy, for sure, coming off of worlds and then getting kind of right back into it for the Pan Ams was definitely something I’ve never done before and a good experience to do. It’s been an amazing championships and games I’ve been able to compete in,” Katzberg told CFJC Sports.

The gold medal in August at the worlds made the 21-year-old the youngest champion in the event’s history and the first Canadian male to ever medal in the hammer throw. He and Richmond’s Camryn Rogers, who won gold in the women’s event, are helping put the little-known sport on the map in Canada.

“If I can motivate the younger generation, the developmental athletes to pursue the hammer throw, I think that would be pretty special,” said Katzberg. “It’s something that hasn’t really happened in Canada. But for me and Camryn to be promoting the sport a little bit more, I think that’s a possibility.”

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Helping lure the Nanaimo native Katzberg from the coast to Kamloops was his coach, Olympic medalist Dylan Armstrong. The former Pan Am champion shot putter is putting the youngster through the paces.

“The progress has been wonderful to watch and I watch Ethan grow basically on a weekly basis. He’s been able to have such good preparation… into these past world championships and then on to Pan Am Games. It’s been amazing to watch,” said Armstrong after watching Katzberg’s morning practice throws on Tuesday (Nov. 21).

To say the next eight months are the most important in Katzberg’s young life may not be an exaggeration. The world champ is preparing for the Paris Olympic Games in August. It will be his first trip to the Olympics and he’ll enter the meet as the man to beat.

“It might be a bit easier to be the underdog. You know, you can kind of stay quiet and just do your thing. But I am excited to take in the experience and kind of see what being the world champion going into the Olympics is like. I’m excited for it. I think it’s going to be a great competition and a great Olympics,” said Katzberg.

The goal is to simply train every day for his shot with the 16 pound hammer next summer in Paris.

“It’s head down training. Everything I’m doing day, tomorrow, the next day is leading to that moment,” said Katzberg.

All that for a chance to once again drape the maple leaf over his shoulders in victory.