Wlodarczyk wins hammer throw gold, breaks world record

Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk broke her own women’s hammer world record to claim the gold medal.  Her winning mark was 82.29m (269 feet, 11 inches). The 2012 Olympic silver medalist entered the 2016 Games with a 28-meet unbeaten streak that began in 2014.

Wlodarczyk’s first Olympic title took a little while, despite the fact that she’s been the standard setter in hammer since winning the world title in 2009. She’s now set six world records since then.

  • Her progress was slowed because of her emotional and exuberant celebrations at those worlds in 2009, when she won her first major title a few months after Skolimowska died. Leaping in joy after setting her first career world record at those championships, Wlodarczyk landed awkwardly, broke her ankle, and had to hobble on to the podium in Berlin to collect her gold.
  • China’s Wenxiu Zhang claimed the silver medal with a mark of 76.75m (251-9). Sophie Hitchon broke Great Britain’s national record on her way to earning the bronze medal.
  • Amber Campbell finished sixth and fellow American DeAnna Price was eighth. No U.S. woman has earned a medal since the event debuted on the women’s Olympic program in 2000.

Gold: Anita Wlodarczyk (Poland)
Silver: Wenxiu Zhang (China)
Bronze: Sophie Hitchon (Great Britain)