Ethan Katzberg secures gold for Canada with World Championship record
Katzberg defended his title to win back-to-back golds in the men's hammer throw in Tokyo
Nick Iwanyshyn
For the second consecutive World Athletics Championships, Canada has retained its title of “throwing nation,” as Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C., defended his world championship gold in the men’s hammer throw. Katzberg launched a championship record mark of 84.70 metres on his second throw to beat the field by nearly two metres.
Katzberg is the second Canadian hammer thrower to win gold at these championships, following in the footsteps of newly-crowned women’s world champion Camryn Rogers, who also defended her world title on her second attempt with a Canadian-record throw.
The 23-year-old’s new record mark smashed his previous North American record of 84.34 metres, set at the beginning of the 2024 season in Kenya.
Three of Katzberg’s six attempts would have won gold; he hit 83.07 and 83.73 metres in his final two throws. Germany’s Merlin Hummel claimed silver with a performance of 82.77m, while Hungary’s Bence Halász took bronze, with 82.69m.
The performance cements Katzberg as the fifth-best hammer thrower in history, now sitting solo behind 2004 Olympic champion and Japanese great Koji Murofushi, who was in the crowd to get a glimpse of Katzberg on Tuesday night.
Katzberg’s coach, former Canadian Olympic bronze medallist Dylan Armstrong, told Canadian Running he knew Katzberg’s second throw was special when it left his hands. “I knew he whacked it, and I was just hoping it was in,” says Armstrong. “A new personal best, championship record and area record–I’m super proud of him, and he deserved to win.”
This is the third straight medal for Katzberg at a major championship. He also won gold at the Paris Olympics last summer, and brought home his first world title two years ago in Budapest. He also won the 2023 Pan American Games and took silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
For full results of the 2025 World Athletics Championships, click here.
Canadian Running’s coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships is brought to you by ASICS Canada.
