As the competition narrowed to the final three throws, Annette Echikunwoke emerged as the leader with a throw that positioned her for a silver medal. The field had already seen four competitors eliminated. However, it was Canada’s Camryn Rogers who shifted the dynamics with her fifth attempt, taking the lead.
American athlete Annette Echikunwoke, born to Nigerian parents, made history at the Paris Olympics by winning the silver medal in the women’s hammer throw, marking the first-ever medal for her country in this event.
Echikunwoke’s performance at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Oregon, set the stage for her Olympic success. Her first throw of 245 feet (74.68m) was unbeatable through all six heats.
For the 28-year-old athlete, this was her second Olympic qualification but her first time competing.
Initially set to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Games, which took place in 2021, Echikunwoke faced disqualification due to an administrative oversight that resulted in missed doping screenings for her and several other Nigerian athletes.
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“It’s such a great honor,” she reportedly said of her historic win. “All I can do in my heart is to be so grateful to God for putting me in this situation, quite honestly. I’m so excited and grateful that I get to bring this home for Team USA and to be the first [USA medal winner] is pretty insane. Something that will go down in history. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
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