Camryn Rogers delivers golden performance in Tokyo

In a performance that cemented her place among the sport’s greats, Camryn Rogers became the first Canadian to defend a title at the World Athletics Championships, launching the hammer 80.51 metres in Tokyo to win her second consecutive world crown.

At just 26 years old, the Richmond, British Columbia native not only retained her title from 2023 but also rewrote the Canadian record book in the process. Her winning throw came on her second attempt and immediately sent a message to the field. From that moment on, no one could catch her.

Rogers’s triumph was witnessed by her mother, Shari Rogers, and stepfather, Johnard Janolino, who were seated in the stands at Japan National Stadium. Their presence marked a particularly emotional milestone for the family. The pair had been forced to watch from afar during Rogers’s Olympic debut in 2021, held without spectators due to the pandemic. Four years later, they were front and centre for one of the proudest moments of her career.

“It means everything,” said Rogers, speaking after the event. She recalled hearing every cheer from the stands and described the moment as overwhelming in the best possible way.

Her mother shared the sentiment, describing her daughter as a tireless worker and expressing confidence that this latest victory would only drive her further. Shari admitted she didn’t even watch the record-breaking throw, choosing to look away out of superstition.

Rogers’s dominant throw surpassed her previous personal best of 78.88 metres, which she had set in July at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon. Of her six attempts on Monday, four were better than any other athlete’s best. Chinese throwers Zhao Jie and Zhang Jiale took silver and bronze respectively with throws of 77.60 and 77.10 metres.

The victory also extended Rogers’s impressive 2025 campaign, which now includes 10 wins out of 11 events. Her consistency and competitive edge have solidified her status as the world’s top-ranked women’s hammer thrower.

Her win in Tokyo follows a steady rise in international competition over the past few years. She first made the national team in 2016 and idolized Anita Wlodarczyk, the Polish legend who once set the world record and claimed Olympic gold in 2021. Rogers placed fifth in that Tokyo final behind Wlodarczyk, but their dynamic has since shifted.

In their latest encounter, Wlodarczyk finished sixth, while Rogers delivered a throw that only the Polish star has ever bettered. It was their fourth meeting this season, part of a changing of the guard in women’s hammer throwing.

Rogers, already an Olympic champion from Paris 2024 and a silver medallist at the 2022 world championships, now adds a second world title to her growing list of accolades. Her confidence on the field was matched by emotion off it, as she described the shared celebration with fellow competitors as surreal.

Evan Dunfee, also from Richmond, won gold in the 35-kilometre race walk earlier in the championships, making Rogers the second Canadian to top the podium in Tokyo.

As the season draws to a close, Camryn Rogers stands at the peak of her sport, her sights set firmly on history.

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