Canada’s Camryn Rogers made history at the world athletics championships by becoming the first Canadian to win a medal in the women’s hammer throw.
With the wind swirling and the sun beating down on Hayward Field on Sunday afternoon in Eugene, Ore., Rogers launched his third throw of the final 75.52 meters, enough to win silver for Canada.
It is the first time a Canadian woman has won a medal in an event at a world championship. It is also Canada’s first medal at these worlds.
“Oh my gosh. I feel completely overwhelmed with emotion right now. I’m so happy,” Rodgers told CBC Sports.
“I’m so motivated and so excited to go home with this medal. He shows every throw, every lift, that’s what it comes down to.”
Fellow Canadian Olympian Jillian Weir finished fifth with a throw of 72.41 meters.
WATCH | Rogers wins historic silver medal at Worlds:
Camryn Rogers wins silver in hammer throw final at World Athletics Championships
The Richmond, British Columbia native clocked 75.52 on her third attempt for Canada’s first medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Brooke Andersen of the United States won gold with a throw of 78.96m, while compatriot Janie Kasanovoyd took bronze (74.86m).
Rodgers soaked in the historic moment, taking a lap around the stadium with a Canadian flag draped over her.
Camryn’s mother, Shari Rogers, cheered wildly in the stands next to her fiancé, waving a Canadian flag.
The two embraced as Rodgers continued to circle the stadium.
“I felt so overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. Camryn is my hero. She leads by example and I learn so much from her all the time. We’ve been through a lot together,” Shari said.
“Now she has set a huge example, not just for Canada, but for women and other girls in sports. It means so much. She did it and I’m just proud of her. My shining star.”
The historic moment is fully absorbed for Camryn as she is embraced by her mother.
“When we were doing our tour after that, I saw her in the crowd. She went down to the railing and gave me a big hug and that’s when she hit me,” Camryn said. “When she wrapped her arms around me, I started bawling on the spot.”
WATCH | Rodgers reflects on the podium finish:
Camryn Rogers reflects on winning silver at the World Athletics Championships in the hammer throw
The 23-year-old Canadian spoke with CBC’s Scott Russell after her second-place finish in the women’s hammer throw final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Rogers got off to a strong start with an opening throw of 72.61m which put her in second place at the start. She did not register her second throw after hitting the net.
But the best was yet to come.
Her third throw was the silver medal winner. Rogers stepped into the ring and shot it 75.52 meters.
“I couldn’t be more motivated. My season isn’t over yet. The Commonwealth Games in two weeks, go out there and perform,” Rogers said.
A golden smile.
Silver medal.
Historical stuff.
🇨🇦Camryn Rogers enjoys this moment at Hayward Field. pic.twitter.com/g44j4bv82o
—@Devin_Heroux
It was another successful season for Rodgers.
The 23-year-old from Richmond, British Columbia, is a three-time NCAA champion, having won her third title just a month earlier. She holds the national and NCAA records in the event.
Rogers also made history in her Olympic debut in Tokyo last summer, becoming the first Canadian ever to reach an Olympic hammer throw final.
She finished fifth overall with a throw of 74.35 meters. She was the youngest contestant in the final, just 22 at the time, by almost two years.
WATCH | Rogers took the incredible path to becoming a hammer throwing superstar:
Camryn Rogers took an unlikely path to becoming a superstar in the hammer throw
The hammer throw was Canadian Camryn Rogers’ first sport, and now, at 23, she’s one of the best in the world.
And her fascination with the sport began just a decade ago while watching the London Olympics in 2012. Rogers was amazed at how strong the women in the hammer throw competition were – she wanted to be like them one day.
Now she has made history in the event for Canada and her mom couldn’t be prouder.
“She gives me strength and she doesn’t even know it. When I see her out there doing that, it’s such an amazing feeling. I’m so happy for her,” Shari said.
“It’s huge. And it shows that we have the power within us to make anything happen.”
Canada’s Ahmed finished 6th in the men’s 10,000m
As Rogers continued to make his way around the stadium, the men’s 10,000m race began.
Canadian Moh Ahmed, who has been dealing with an injury for the past few weeks, was ready to compete.
The 31-year-old long-distance runner was looking to improve on his sixth-place finish a year ago at the Tokyo Olympics in the event.
He also finished sixth in the event three years ago at the world championships in Doha.
Ahmed kept up the lead throughout the race and was back in the top six when the bell sounded for the final lap.
Despite a brave push to the finish, Ahmed again finished sixth in the event, recording a time of 27:30.27.
“I still haven’t figured out the 10K. This is disappointing. I thought I prepared very well. I didn’t like my position in the last 400 meters. I’d like to be more in front,” Ahmed told CBC Sports after the race.
“There was a lot of traffic out there and I think I put myself in a bad position.”
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei won the race in a season’s best time of 27:27.43. In doing so, he became only the fourth man to win world titles in the 10,000 meters.
Stanley Mburu of Kenya placed second in 27:27.90. Jacob Kiplimo, also from Uganda, won bronze in 27:27.97
Ahmed praised the leaders after the race.
“It’s hard to run right here. It all comes down to position. It comes down to staying closer to the front. And abilities,” he said.
Ahmed will now turn his attention to the 5000m.
Last summer in Tokyo, Ahmed won silver in the 5,000m, Canada’s first medal at the distance in Olympic track and field. This season he set a national record in the indoor 5,000 meters.
“I certainly feel confident in the five, but I also felt confident in this one,” he said.
WATCH | What makes Ahmed so fast at 5000 meters?:
What makes runner Moh Ahmed so fast in the 5000m?
Olympic medalist Moh Ahmed put Canada on the map in distance running. Olympic runner and CBC Sports analyst Kate Van Buskirk breaks down what makes him so good.
For more stories about the experiences of black Canadians – from anti-black racism to success stories in the black community – see Being Black in Canada, a CBC project that black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
(CBC)
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