PARIS – Clang. Clang. Clang.
 
After three rings of Stade de France's giant bell, California track & field alum Camryn Rogers – proudly bearing the red-and-white of the Canadian flag over her shoulders – leaped for joy as the crowd roared.
 
Three years after becoming the first Canadian woman to reach an Olympic hammer throw final and one year after becoming the first world champion in program history, Rogers had reached the pinnacle of the sport as the new Olympic champion – and first female medalist in program history.
 
Her gold medal is the Golden Bears' fifth of the Paris Olympic Games and the first by a non-swimmer. The Cal track & field program's last Olympic medal was in 2000, courtesy of decathlete Chris Huffins (bronze); no other thrower in program history had ever finished so high, with only Americans Harry Liversedge (shot put, bronze) and Augustus "Gus" Pope (discus, bronze) reaching the podium in 1920. Rogers is the first Cal track & field athlete to win since 1972, when Eddie Hart contributed to the United States' winning 4x100m relay, and the first individual winner since Guinn Smith (pole vault, 1948).
 
Rogers is also just the fifth Canadian woman to ever win gold in any track & field event, joining Ethel Catherwood (high jump, 1928) and the 4x100m relay team of Ethel Smith, Bobbie Rosenfeld, Myrtle Cook and Jane Bell (1928). Before this year, Canada had never swept the men's and women's gold medal in any athletics event (countryman Ethan Katzberg won in the men's hammer final on Sunday).
 
Rogers' first attempt of 74.11m (243-1) took an early lead in the competition, but she ended Round 2 in second place after eventual bronze medalist Zhao Jie of China launched her best throw of 74.27m (243-8). The Canadian then responded with a mark of 74.47m (244-4) to re-take the first-place spot, which she held onto for a single round before the United States' Annette Nneka Echikunwoke, posted a season-best 75.48m (247-7).
 
After recording a throw of 75.44m (247-6) to close the gap on her fourth attempt, the ever-focused Rogers unleashed a fifth-round throw that sailed far beyond Echikunwoke's mark - 76.97m (252-6). The competition was far from over; Rogers' only acknowledgement of her accomplishment was a few claps as she stepped out of the circle, stone-faced. Her coach Mohamad Saatara, however, let out a great yell.
 
One round to go. Seven women were due to throw before Rogers – any one of them could challenge. Polish world record-holder and 2020 Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk and Finland's Silja Kosonen waited in fourth and fifth place, respectively, having each thrown over 74 meters for their season bests. Zhao had been remarkably consistent, not fouling even once. Echikunwoke, of course, was in the silver-medal position.
 
Starting from eighth place, the sixth round began. No improvement for Venezuela's Rosa Andreina Rodriguez, nor for Azerbaijan's Hanna Skydan. No improvement for Finland's Krista Tervo, or for Kosonen. No improvement for Wlodarczyk – the three medal-winners were decided.
 
For Zhao, a final throw of 71.88m (235-10).
 
For Echikunwoke, 73.56m (241-4).
 
Still outwardly emotionless, Rogers stepped into the circle, released the hammer one last time, and stumbled, earning a foul – but it didn't matter. The new Olympic champion stepped back and sank down nearly to her knees, pressing her palms against the ground. She covered her mouth with one hand before rising to her feet in tears, ready to dole out a thousand hugs – to her fellow competitors, to Saatara, to her teammate Rowan Hamilton, to Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson, to her trainer, to her parents.
 
"You did it," Saatara told her. "The hard way, but you did it."
 
Then she headed over to the champion's bell and grabbed the rope.
 
One, two, three.
 
Official.
 
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