Canadian Olympic gold medalist Ethan Katzberg is going viral – but not for the reason you’d think!
The 22 year old from Nanaimo, British Columbia just took home gold in the Paris 2024 Olympic hammer throw event, becoming the first Canadian ever to make the podium for the event since 1912 in Stockolm.
Not only did he win, he crushed the competition with a final throw of 84.12 metres, beating the rest by a staggering four plus metres.
In second, Hungary’s Bence Halasz took silver with a throw of 79.97 metres, and Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan took bronze with a 79.39 metre throw.
However, it wasn’t Katzberg’s winning hammer throw that had viewers chattering and tweeting – they were more so surprised to learn he was Canadian based on a number of his physical attributes.
With long, curly blonde hair, a full moustache, and athletic physique the commentators called “skinny”, a number of people were convinced he must actually hail from Australia.
One X user wrote, “Nah I want a DNA test, this man is clearly Australian”.
“He’s probably a secret Aussie” agreed another, while one claimed he was just “appropriating the Aussie male look”.
Several German viewers also hilariously chimed in, trying to claim Katzberg was one of their own.
“Wrong! German. His name is Leon and his sister’s name is Mandy. DNA will prove it,” another X user tweeted.
Online genealogy platform MyHeritage also chimed in. “We’d love to help solve this mystery! Whether he’s Canadian or has a surprise Aussie connection, MyHeritage DNA can get to the bottom of it!”
Canadians aren’t having it though, and have entered the chat to defend our national treasure.
“He’s definitely Canadian. He was a child actor in the Trailer Park Boys tv show,” a Canadian X user responded.
“Aren’t Canadians just snow Australians?” says another, and fellow Nanaimo resident states “I grew up in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. This man screams Nanaimo.”
Katzberg was in fact born and raised in Nanaimo, B.C., and he took up hammer throwing after watching his sister compete in the sport growing up.
After winning gold at the Paris Olympics, he humbly stated “I don’t think I expected it, but I had the preparation in mind to get a good round on the first throw, and to throw 84 metres felt really good.”
We can’t wait to see what’s next for the young athlete – and no you can’t have him, Australia, he’s ours!