In a heart-stopping finish to the women’s hammer throw event at the Olympics, Poland’s Anita Włodarczyk fell just short of the podium, missing a bronze medal by a mere five centimeters. The event concluded with Canadian athlete Camryn Rogers clinching the gold with a throw of 76.97 meters
Włodarczyk, a celebrated three-time Olympic champion and four-time world and European champion, was not initially expected to make waves at this year’s games. Her qualification for the finals was considered an achievement given the fierce competition and her recent performances.
Starting the finals with a throw of 73.17 meters, Włodarczyk managed to improve her distance in the fourth round with a throw of 73.61 meters, initially placing her seventh. A significant throw of 74.23 meters in the fifth round advanced her to fourth place, tantalizingly close to the medals. However, her final attempt landed at 69.77 meters, sealing her position just outside medal contention.
The bronze went to China’s Jie Zhao, while American Enette Nneka Echikunwoke maintained a strong performance throughout the competition to secure the silver medal.