PARIS – With a throw of 77.92 meters, Maryland track and field assistant throws coach Rudy Winkler placed sixth in the hammer throw finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
 
The mark was his best effort at the Olympic games after he posted marks of 71.89 meters in 2016 (Rio) and 77.08 meters in 2021 (Tokyo). The sixth-place finish was also his best showing at the Olympics improving upon his previous high of seventh in Tokyo.
 
Canada's Ethan Katzberg won the event with a mark of 84.12 meters followed by Bence Halasz of Hungary (79.87 meters).
 
Winkler sat in fourth after the first round with his best toss of 77.92 meters. He could not best that mark after making the top eight to advance to the final three rounds of the finals.
 
Winkler appeared in his third consecutive Olympic Games for Team USA after he took second earlier in July at the Team Trials in Oregon. 
 
He came into the U.S. Trials ranked seventh in the world for the hammer throw and is the American record holder (271-feet, 4-inches).