Ethan Katzberg eyes World Championships glory after Kip Keino Classic victory
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 04.06.25. | 13:56
The 20th World Championships, scheduled for Saturday, 13 to Sunday, 21 September, in Tokyo, will serve as the season finale
Canadian Olympic hammer throw champion Ethan Katzberg believes he is on the right path to defending his world title at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships after a dominant performance at the Absa Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi.
The 23-year-old from British Columbia threw a world-leading 82.73m at the packed Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday, 31 May, successfully defending his title at the sixth stop of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series.
It was one of three throws over 80m in his four legal attempts — none of his rivals managed to break that mark.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
“I definitely hold Kenya close in my career,” Katzberg said in an interview with Kip Keino media. “I started my professional career here as a junior. Coming back and performing well again is always special.”
Despite arriving in Nairobi just hours before the competition, Katzberg was the standout performer across both track and field events. Croatia’s Matija Greguric finished second with a personal best of 76.68m, and Hungary’s Dániel Rába came third with 75.93m.
Katzberg has been in stellar form since winning his first Kip Keino title in 2023, following his World Championship win in Budapest.
He began his 2024 season in Nairobi with a personal best and area record of 84.38m, setting the tone for an incredible run of eight straight victories, including Olympic gold in Paris (84.12m) on August 4, 2024.
This season, he remains unbeaten, with wins at the Lotto Diech meeting (79.32m) and the Halplus Werfertage (81.22m) in Germany, before returning to Kenya to extend his winning streak.
Katzberg, coached by former Olympic shot put medalist Dylan Armstrong and his father Bernie, first competed in Kenya at the World U20 Championships in 2021, though he failed to register a legal throw.
He returned in 2023 to take silver behind Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki. Months later in Budapest, Katzberg avenged that loss by winning gold with 81.25m to Nowicki’s 81.02m.
“I didn’t expect to throw that far last year in Nairobi,” he said. “But it was the best start and end to a season for me.”
His strong showing in Kenya once again has him optimistic about the rest of the year. “I have a few more meets in Europe. The rhythm is there, and hopefully I’ll carry this form into Tokyo.”
The 20th World Championships, scheduled for Saturday, 13 to Sunday, 21 September, in Tokyo, will serve as the season finale. Katzberg hopes to defend his world title and return to Nairobi in 2026 for a Kip Keino Classic three-peat.
“The energy here is unreal,” he said. “It’s one of the best meets on the circuit.”
