Throws legend Bondarchuk leaves legacy in Kamloops and beyond

The 1972 Olympic Summer Games men’s hammer throw gold medallist and world-renowned throws coach Bondarchuk arrived in Kamloops in 2005 – and international stars followed in droves to train under his tutelage.

“He left such a legacy,” Judy Armstrong said. “He put a lot of athletes on national, provincial, international, world championship and Olympic teams. That was his forte. I think in his lifetime there were more than 31 athletes that he had put on Olympic and World Championship teams.”

One of those athletes is Dylan Armstrong, Judy’s son, who trained twice daily with Bondarchuk for 13 years, the relationship spurring international success for the hulking Kamloops shot putter who won world championship medals and bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“It’s pretty emotional,” Dylan said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. He taught me a lot of things and about life in general. That will always stick with me.”

Bondarchuk, from Ukraine, had a doctorate of pedagogical science from the University of Kiev and became known as ‘Dr. B’ in throws circles.

He developed a groundbreaking method of periodization, a system that incorporates stimulation and adaptation through nervous system training and enables athletes to peak multiple times in a season.

Soviet Union athletes established 12 world records in hammer, discus and shot put events while Bondarchuk ran its throws program from 1976 to 1992.

“He was considered one of the best throws coaches in the world,” Judy said. “His family told me that he has actually written 27 books. Everybody wanted to hear him speak.”

English was not Bondarchuk’s first language, but his use of the language improved – with the help of a small dictionary he often carried – and he used hand gestures, grunts, body language, yelling and other forms of communication to instruct athletes.

“A lot of sign language, hand language,” Dylan said. “It was his thing and we made it work. When you’re with that person every day, twice a day, you just figure it out.”

After retiring from competition, Dylan began coaching and learned how to teach Bondarchuk’s periodization methods. He used them to help athletes such as Greg Stewart and Ethan Katzberg reach the pinnacle of their respective throws disciplines.

Stewart is a world champion and Paralympics gold medallist in shot put. Katzberg is an Olympic and world champion in hammer throw.

“Isn’t that fantastic, though, really?” Judy said. “It’s part of the legacy that’s been left through the generations.”

His generational impact on the throws world is perhaps best illustrated through lineage.

The former men’s hammer throw world record holder Bondarchuk coached Yuriy Sedykh, who set the still-standing world record in 1986.

Bondarchuk coached Armstrong, who studied his mentor’s periodization methods.

Armstrong now takes from Bondarchuk’s training system to coach Katzberg, the world and Olympic champion who is now chasing Sedykh’s world record.

“It’s fascinating,” Dylan said. “I don’t think I’d be here today without him and I don’t think Ethan would have had that medal without me. It’s kind of a domino effect.”

Bondarchuk passed away on December 23, 2025 at Royal Inland Hospital. His obituary notes he was a kind man who cared deeply for his family and the athletes he coached.

“We’re going to miss not talking to him and telling him how everyone is doing because he was always wondering,” Judy said. “We’ll miss his phone calls. You come down here (to the Tournament Capital Centre throws pit)… this was his first love, other than his wife and family. Not having him here is going to be a loss, for sure.”

by Marty Hastings

Throws legend Bondarchuk leaves legacy in Kamloops and beyond

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