A history-making medal helped sway voters choosing who would win The Canadian Press male athlete of the award in 2024.
Hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg earned the honour for his golden performance at the Paris Olympics. He is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Olympic champion in the event and earned the countryB次元官网网址檚 first hammer throw medal since 1912.
Katzberg earned 17 of the 56 votes cast by sports editors, producers and reporters across Canada to narrowly beat Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who won the award last year and picked up 14 votes, and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid who had 13 votes.
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B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 incredible,B次元官网网址� Katzberg said of the feat. B次元官网网址淭hose are two highly achieving athletes who have done incredibly well in their respective sports. ThatB次元官网网址檚 really cool.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Press began recognizing male and female athletes of the year in 1932.
Other previous male winners include hockey players Sidney Crosby (2007, 2009, 2010) and Carey Price (2015), basketball player Steve Nash (2002, 2005, 2006), and fellow track and field athletes Donovan Bailey (1996), Andre De Grasse (2016) and Damian Warner (2021).
B次元官网网址淭here are not many hammer throwers in the world. ItB次元官网网址檚 an almost-obsolete sport, but Katzberg showed what years of lonely dedication can do,B次元官网网址� Phil King of The Globe and Mail wrote. B次元官网网址淗e was an inspiration to athletes around the globe to keep trying, no matter how obscure your sport is.B次元官网网址�
Getting to the top of the podium was an all-encompassing endeavour this year, Katzberg said.
B次元官网网址淚t was 150 per cent dedication to Paris, right? There wasnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of focus on anything else,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd then, having that one moment to show all the work we put in, and everything going great, everything connecting at one time, it was a lot of emotions, a lot of energy. It was an incredibly special moment.B次元官网网址�
The 22-year-old from Nanaimo, B.C., was a dominant force in the Olympic final.
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His first throw stood up as the winner, measuring a whopping 84.12 metres. No other thrower surpassed the 80-metre mark.
The distance was just shy of the personal best 84.38 metres he threw at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 20.
KatzbergB次元官网网址檚 success B次元官网网址� combined with that of fellow Canadian Camryn Rogers, who won Olympic gold in the womenB次元官网网址檚 hammer throw B次元官网网址� sparked a growing interest in the sport across the country.
B次元官网网址淭hat puts a smile on my face,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 something I donB次元官网网址檛 think a lot of people realize, that a lot of athletes realize, that they can have that impact on the younger generation. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter what scale. ThatB次元官网网址檚 an incredible feeling.B次元官网网址�
Three days later after his Olympic win, Katzberg was back training in Slovakia. He returned to Paris for the closing ceremonies after being named a flag-bearer alongside record-breaking swimmer and CP female athlete of the year Summer McIntosh.
The duo were easy to spot, in part because of the throwerB次元官网网址檚 six-foot-seven frame, his distinctive moustache and his shoulder-length hair.
B次元官网网址淭o walk into the stadium holding the flag with, obviously, another very accomplished athlete and kind of have a moment where IB次元官网网址檓 like, B次元官网网址極K, that was my Olympic experience,B次元官网网址� I kind of could take it all in,B次元官网网址� Katzberg said. B次元官网网址淎nd that was really special to me, to kind of just understand what just happened.B次元官网网址�
There was a slight mishap on the way into the packed Stade de France, he admitted.
B次元官网网址淲alking into the stadium, we were waving the flag and there was a volunteer we were following, and I think I accidentally hit him with the flag once or twice,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e were just new to how to wave the flag properly. So that was the dry run, I guess.B次元官网网址�
After achieving his Olympic dream, Katzberg took a month off in September. He didnB次元官网网址檛 compete. He didnB次元官网网址檛 train. He simply spent time with loved ones and tried to recharge physically and emotionally.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 interesting because you work toward something and itB次元官网网址檚 kind of a bit of a pressure cooker of energy,B次元官网网址� Katzberg said. B次元官网网址淵ou build so long towards this one moment, and then you have that moment, and then itB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址極K, this is all IB次元官网网址檝e been thinking about for so long. Now, what do I do afterwards?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪o still kind of figuring that out, to be honest with you. IB次元官网网址檓 just kind of taking it day by day. IB次元官网网址檝e got such an incredible passion for hammer throw, itB次元官网网址檚 just always there. And IB次元官网网址檓 pushing as hard as I can right now to kind of get that feeling back that I had prior to Paris.B次元官网网址�
Over the past several months, Katzberg has shared that passion with thousands of students, athletes and supporters. At various celebrations and meets, heB次元官网网址檚 given people a chance to hold and take pictures with the gold medal that was draped around his neck in Paris.
The hardware will one day be added to a special display case, but for now, Katzberg is savouring the joy it brings others.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of a way to make it tangible. The amount of people who are able to actually hold on to one or wear it or whatever is quite small. So sharing that with them, I really enjoy that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淒oing a talk, and passing it around the room, and everyone gets to take a photo with it and share that moment with you, thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty special.B次元官网网址�
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
