Katzberg competing at the 2021 U20 world championship in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was a finalist. (Ethan Katzberg)

By Jordan Davidson

hammer down

VIDEO: Nanaimo man proud to throw the hammer for Canada at Commonwealth Games

Jun 26, 2022 | 10:58 AM

NANAIMO — A former John Barsby Secondary student is ready to put the hammer down and represent Canada at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England.

Ethan Katzberg started his athletic career early excelling in track and field events before finding his stride with the hammer throw.

Turns out it runs in the family.

“My dad was a coach and my sister got into it, and I sort of thought why not give it a shot. I kind of did every event in track when I was in the junior development years, and then I saw my sister in the hammer throw and thought it looked fun.”

It didn’t take long for Katzberg to make his mark in the sport, winning gold at a national event when he was just 15 along with setting a meet record.

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Currently in Kamloops training with his coach Dylan Armstrong, a Canadian Olympian, the 6’6, 240 pound Katzberg trains eight times a week both physically and mentally.

“It’s an extremely technical event so you gotta put a lot of time in. You gotta get used to where the ball is in regards to your body.”

Throwers must release the hammer within a circle perimeter, which limits the number of spins they can do before letting it fly.

He continued to set and break records, including at the Men’s U20 hammer throw event in June 2021, where he tossed 75.60 metres.

Then a couple of weeks later, he broke his own record by throwing it 77.97 metres.

“Last year I was throwing the six kilogram hammer and I set a Canadian record and then broke it later in the season. Then I got to go to the U20 World Championships in Kenya last summer.”

Since turning 20, Katzberg now competes in the men’s division with a 7.26 kilogram hammer.

His personal best in the men’s division so far is 74.16 metres, set at the Oregon Relays this year, which nabbed him first place in the event.

The world record hammer throw in the men’s division is 86.74 metres, set back in 1986 by Yuriy Sedykh of the former Soviet Union.

Katzberg is also mentally preparing to fly to Birmingham, England for the games.

“I’m excited for sure, I really don’t know what to expect. I feel like I just have to get there and see what it’s all about.”

He’ll have one day to qualify for the finals with only three throws. The top 12 move to the finals, where he’ll have up to six throws to earn a medal.

Following those games, he’ll next turn his gaze towards the next summer Olympics.

“Paris 2024, that’s the goal and two-year plan. There’s a lot of complicated ways you can make it there, you can throw a certain distance or qualify by throwing five throws far enough. That’s kind of my plan though, to try and get to Paris.”

He said his father is really involved and supportive in his journey as well as his sister, who put her hammer down when she went to University.

A total of 33 athletes from across Canada were chosen to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, who join the ten Paralympic athletes.

Birmingham 2022 will feature 19 sports and eight para-sports with up to 4,500 athletes competing. The games run from July 28 to August 8.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow