Hammer Throw, Women

Poland’s Anita Włodarczyk had been the dominant hammer thrower for over a decade, having won the last two gold medals and four World Championships, in 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2017. But Włodarczyk was now being challenged by her countrywoman Malwina Kopron and three Americans – DeAnna Price, Brooke Andersen, and Gwen Berry, with Price having won the World Championship in 2019.

All five made it through qualifying but the Americans would not respond in the final, with Price finishing 8th, Andersen 10th, and Berry 11th. The opening round lead in the final was taken by France’s Alexandra Tavernier, with a throw of 73.54. In round two China’s Wang Zheng moved into the lead with 75.01, but the next thrower was Włodarczyk and her 76.01 effort put her into first.

Włodarczyk improved in both rounds three (77.44) and four (78.48), with her fourth round mark the gold medal effort. In round five, Kopron, who to that point was in sixth, got the disc out to 75.49, a mark that would hold up for bronze. Wang improved in round six, throwing 77.03 to solidify her hold on the silver medal.

Włodarczyk’s gold medal made her the first woman to three-peat in an individual athletics event at the Olympics, although it had been done 11 times previously by men. Among Polish women in any Olympic sport she also matched the three gold medals won by legendary Irena Kirszenstein-Szewińska, and trailed only Polish race walker Robert Korzeniowski, who won four gold medals.