Echikunwoke claims silver in women's hammer throw

University of Cincinnati alumna Annette Echikunwoke secured silver in the women's hammer throw at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She is the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in the hammer throw.
 
Echikunwoke tossed a season-best 75.48m on her third attempt, just shy of her career-best 75.49m, that she recorded at the USATF Throws Fest in 2021.
 
She becomes the third Bearcat to win an Olympic medal in track and field, joining Mary Wineberg (gold, 4x400 relay) and David Payne (silver, 110m hurdles).
 
Canada's Camryn Rogers claimed gold with a throw of 76.48m while China's Jie Zaho took bronze with a throw of 74.27m.
 
Heading into the final three throws, after four competitors were eliminated, Echikunwoke led the field with her silver-winning toss, before Rogers took the lead on her fifth attempt.  
 
Rodgers and Echikunwoke are familiar with each other, the two Olympic athletes competed against each other in 2022 at the Commonwealth Games, where Rodgers claimed gold and Echikunwoke took 12th.
 
Echikunwoke is one of the most decorated female athletes in UC history. She won the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships national title in the weight throw and remains the school record holder in four of the five throwing events she competed in at UC. She was a seven-time AAC Champion and a four-time All-America First Team honoree.

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