Frustrated by Nigeria, Annette Echikunwoke wins Hammer Silver for USA behind Camryn Rogers of Canada

USA's Annette Echikunwoke won silver in hammer throw, surpassing Olympic champion Wlodarczyk, but was narrowly beaten by Rogers.

Nigeria-born Annette Echikunwoke took a stunning hammer silver at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night with a massive 75.48-meter throw for the USA, narrowly losing to world champion Camryn Rogers.

The former Nigerian opted to represent the US after Nigerian officials failed to enter her name for Tokyo Olympics despite qualifying. Frustrated, Echikunwoke found solace in USA and missed Gold medal in Paris by a very small margin.

Echikunwoke opened the competition with a strong throw of 73.11 meters followed by a 71.45-meter attempt.

It was in the third round that she achieved her best throw of the evening, launching the hammer to 75.48 meters.

Although she fouled in the fourth round, she quickly recovered with throws of 73.32 and 73.56 meters in the final two rounds.

However, it was Camryn Rogers of Canada who ultimately claimed the gold medal with a throw of 76.97 meters.

Rogers, the reigning world champion, secured her victory with a powerful and consistent performance throughout the competition.

Jie Zhao of China took home the bronze medal with a throw of 74.27 meters, narrowly edging out Poland's Anita Włodarczyk, who finished fourth with a best throw of 74.23 meters. Silja Kosonen of Finland completed the top five with a mark of 74.04 meters.

Going into the final, Anita Wlodarczyk was already considered the finest women's hammer thrower of all time, having become the first woman to win three Olympic titles in the same event.

Despite her fourth-place finish, Wlodarczyk's legacy remains intact, and she continues to inspire athletes around the world.

Echikunwoke's journey to this competition has been filled with challenges and triumphs as detailed in her biography on the Olympics website.

As a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, she initially chose to represent Nigeria, her parents' homeland, in hammer throwing in 2021.

Her decision was influenced by the intense competition in the USA, and she saw it as an opportunity for a better shot at qualifying for the Olympic Games.

Despite breaking the African record and securing qualification, Echikunwoke and nine other Nigerian athletes were deemed ineligible by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) upon arriving in Tokyo due to a testing protocol error by the African Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Nigeria, categorized as a high-risk nation for anti-doping matters, requires athletes to undergo three out-of-competition tests within 10 months before the event.

Unfortunately, the AFN failed to comply with this rule for several athletes based in the USA, including Echikunwoke.

"On my 25th birthday, I was officially informed that I cannot compete at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics due to the negligence of the federation I was set to compete for.

I can’t even begin to explain how heartbroken I am. It honestly feels like a fever dream. To think of all the hours of throwing sessions, hundreds of hard lifts, all the moments when my body aches in pain and reminding myself ‘it’ll be worth it’, just to keep pushing on, sacrificing time with loved ones…. and all I’m left with is this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. This has been the most mentally and emotionally exhausting time of my life," she shared in a Instagram post on 30th July 2021.

Despite the setback Echikunwoke made the decision to return to representing the USA acknowledging the challenging competition but determined to succeed.

Her employer, Empower, supported her throughout her journey, even creating an award-winning web series titled "Grind Before You Shine," which followed her journey to the 2020 Olympic Games.

Inspired by a phrase her coach often used during her college years, the series captured her dedication and perseverance in pursuing her dreams.

Echikunwoke's roots run deep in both Nigeria and the United States.

Her parents, born and raised in Nigeria, moved to the United States to start a family. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and has lived in Ohio her entire life, only making her first-ever trip to Nigeria for the 2020 Olympic Trials in Lagos in 2021.

Her family name, Echikunwoke, meaning Leader of Men, speaks to her leadership and strength both on and off the field. Her cousin, U.S. actress Megalyn Echikunwoke, known primarily for her roles in film and television, shares this legacy of excellence.

Named in the Nigerian Olympic team for Tokyo 2020, Echikunwoke was unable to compete due to the doping testing protocol errors.

However, she continued to pursue her passion, becoming a finalist at the 2022 World Championships, where she finished 12th in the hammer throw.

Her journey began in college, where she was the 2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor Championships national weight throw champion and set school records in four of the five throwing events while competing for the University of Cincinnati.

Echikunwoke's remarkable performance at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials marked her as a force to be reckoned with.

With a season's best throw of 74.68 meters in the first round she secured her place in the 2024 Olympic Games.