1. Early Life and Background
Anita Włodarczyk was born on August 8, 1985, in Rawicz, located in the former Leszno Voivodeship of Poland. Her parents are Andrzej and Maria Włodarczyk, and she has an older brother named Karol, who is six years her senior. In her early childhood, Włodarczyk was influenced by her father's interest in speedway, a form of motorcycle racing. However, during her elementary school years, she began to show a remarkable aptitude for athletics, winning the 4-event competition at the Leszno Voivodeship student championships.
In 2001, Włodarczyk joined Kadet Rawicz, a youth athletics team in her hometown, where she began training in discus throw, hammer throw, and shot put. Her competitive debut in the hammer throw at the national level occurred in 2004, participating in various Polish domestic competitions. The following year, in 2005, she enrolled in the AZS-AWF Poznań athletics club. By July 2006, she had already secured a third-place finish in the hammer throw at the Polish Championship, competing against established athletes like Kamila Skolimowska and Katarzyna Kita.
Her progress continued in 2007, when she earned a silver medal at the Polish Academic Championships held in Warsaw in May. In July of the same year, she placed fourth at the Polish Championship in Poznań, which led to her selection for the Polish U-23 national team. She then competed at the 2007 European Athletics U23 Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, where she finished ninth with a throw of 209 ft (63.74 m). Later that September, she claimed her first U-23 Polish championship title in Słupsk.
2. Career
Włodarczyk's career is marked by a consistent ascent to dominance in the hammer throw, characterized by numerous world records and unparalleled success in major international championships.
2.1. Early Career and International Debut
Włodarczyk made her senior international debut in March 2008, representing Poland at the European Cup Winter Throwing in Split, Croatia. She achieved immediate success, winning the gold medal with a throw of 236 ft (71.84 m), surpassing competitors such as Germany's Betty Heidler and Kathrin Klaas. Later that year, in August, she participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, where she finished fourth with a throw of 235 ft (71.56 m). In September, she competed at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, securing a bronze medal with 233 ft (70.97 m), finishing behind Yipsi Moreno of Cuba and Martina Hrašnová of Slovakia.
In 2009, Włodarczyk continued to build momentum. On May 30, she set a new personal best of 250 ft (76.2 m) at the Polish Club Athletics Championships in Biała Podlaska, improving her previous mark by 32 in (81 cm). She further improved this to 251 ft (76.59 m) at the Golden Spike Ostrava in June. Later that month, she earned her first gold medal at a major international team competition, winning the hammer throw event at the 2009 European Athletics Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal, with a throw of 247 ft (75.23 m). Leading up to the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, she set a new national record of 253 ft (77.2 m) at the Cottbus International in August, which was then the fourth-longest throw by a woman in hammer throw history.
2.2. World Records and Dominance in Major Championships
Włodarczyk's career reached a new height on August 22, 2009, at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany. In her second throw, she set a new world record of 256 ft (77.96 m), securing the gold medal. However, her season ended prematurely as she twisted her left ankle during her celebration.
She returned to competition in April 2010 at the Meeting Grand Prix IAAF de Dakar, winning her event with a throw of 246 ft (75.13 m). On June 6, 2010, at the Enea Cup in Bydgoszcz, she broke her own world record with a throw of 257 ft (78.3 m). She went on to win a bronze medal at the 2010 European Athletics Championships and finished second overall in the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge for the season. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, she placed fifth.
In 2012, she finished third at the Ostrava Golden Spike and was the runner-up at the Prefontaine Classic. In 2014, Włodarczyk won the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zürich, Switzerland, with a throw of 258 ft (78.76 m), setting a new championship and national record. She also won the Continental Cup in Marrakesh, Morocco, with 247 ft (75.21 m).
A significant milestone occurred on August 1, 2015, when Włodarczyk set a new world record of 266 ft (81.08 m), becoming the first woman in history to throw the hammer over 262 ft (80 m). She continued her dominance by winning the gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China, once again throwing over 262 ft (80 m).
On August 15, 2016, Włodarczyk secured her second Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, setting a new world record of 270 ft (82.29 m). Just two weeks later, on August 28, 2016, she further improved her own world record to 272 ft (82.98 m) at the EAA 7th Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Warsaw. As a tribute to her fellow Polish hammer thrower, the late Kamila Skolimowska, Włodarczyk uses some of Skolimowska's equipment in competition.
In 2017, she won another gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London, United Kingdom, with a throw of 256 ft (77.9 m). She concluded 2017 with an impressive 42-contest winning streak that had begun in July 2014. In 2018, she continued her winning ways, taking gold at the Athletics World Cup in London with 258 ft (78.74 m) and at the 2018 European Athletics Championships in Berlin with 259 ft (78.94 m). As of 2020, Włodarczyk held all of the top 15 women's hammer throw results and 27 out of the top 30, underscoring her unparalleled dominance in the event.
2.3. Historic Olympic Gold Medals
Anita Włodarczyk's Olympic career is marked by an unprecedented series of gold medal victories, solidifying her status as a legend in the sport.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, Włodarczyk initially won the silver medal with a throw of 255 ft (77.6 m). However, on October 11, 2016, she was retroactively awarded the gold medal after Russia's Tatyana Lysenko was stripped of her medal due to a positive reanalysis of her stored doping samples. This marked Włodarczyk's first Olympic gold.
She followed this with a dominant performance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she won her second consecutive Olympic gold medal, setting a new world record of 270 ft (82.29 m).
Her historic achievement culminated at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she won her third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the hammer throw with a throw of 257 ft (78.48 m). This made Włodarczyk the only woman in history to win the Olympic hammer throw event three times in a row. Furthermore, she became the first woman to win a specific individual athletics event three times consecutively at the Olympic Games. With her three Olympic gold medals, Włodarczyk ranks third in the all-time medal table among Polish athletes who have competed at the Summer Olympics, behind racewalker Robert Korzeniowski and sprinter Irena Szewińska.
3. Records and Achievements
Anita Włodarczyk has set multiple world records and holds a dominant position in the history of women's hammer throw.
She has set the following world records:
- 256 ft (77.96 m) on August 22, 2009, in Berlin, Germany.
- 257 ft (78.3 m) on June 6, 2010, in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
- 266 ft (81.08 m) on August 1, 2015, in Cetniewo, Poland, becoming the first woman to throw over 262 ft (80 m).
- 270 ft (82.29 m) on August 15, 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Brazil.
- 272 ft (82.98 m) on August 28, 2016, in Warsaw, Poland, which remains the current world record.
Her personal bests also include 250 ft (76.2 m), 251 ft (76.59 m), and 253 ft (77.2 m) set during her early career. As of 2020, she remarkably held all of the top 15 women's hammer throw results and 27 out of the top 30 throws in history, demonstrating her statistical dominance in the event.
4. Awards and Honors
Włodarczyk has received numerous national orders, sports awards, and other recognitions for her outstanding athletic accomplishments and contributions.
- Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, awarded in 2009.
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, awarded in 2016.
- Polish Sports Personality of the Year, awarded by the Przegląd Sportowy magazine in 2016.
- Honorary Citizen of her hometown, Rawicz, conferred in 2016.
- Track & Field News Athlete of the Year award in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
- Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, awarded in 2021 for her outstanding achievements in sport.
- In 2021, Mattel announced the creation of a Shero Barbie doll in Włodarczyk's image, recognizing her as an "inspiration to others" in pursuing their dreams. She became the third Polish woman to be honored with a Shero Barbie doll, following Martyna Wojciechowska and Iwona Blecharczyk.
5. International Competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | European U23 Championships | Debrecen, Hungary | 9th | 209 ft (63.74 m) | |
| 2008 | European Winter Throwing Cup | Split, Croatia | 1st | 236 ft (71.84 m) | |
| Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 4th | 235 ft (71.56 m) | ||
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 3rd | 233 ft (70.97 m) | ||
| 2009 | European Team Championships | Leiria, Portugal | 1st | 247 ft (75.23 m) | |
| World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 1st | 256 ft (77.96 m) | World Record, Championship Record | |
| 2010 | European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 3rd | 241 ft (73.56 m) | |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 5th | 241 ft (73.56 m) | |
| 2012 | European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 1st | 244 ft (74.29 m) | |
| Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 255 ft (77.6 m) | Retroactively awarded gold | |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 1st | 257 ft (78.46 m) | |
| Jeux de la Francophonie | Nice, France | 1st | 248 ft (75.62 m) | ||
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 1st | 258 ft (78.76 m) | Championship Record |
| Continental Cup | Marrakesh, Morocco | 1st | 247 ft (75.21 m) | ||
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 1st | 265 ft (80.85 m) | Championship Record |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 1st | 256 ft (78.14 m) | |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1st | 270 ft (82.29 m) | World Record, Olympic Record, Championship Record | |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 256 ft (77.9 m) | |
| 2018 | Athletics World Cup | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 258 ft (78.74 m) | |
| European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 1st | 259 ft (78.94 m) | Championship Record | |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 1st | 257 ft (78.48 m) | |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 13th (q) | 233 ft (71.17 m) | Qualified for final but did not compete |
| 2024 | European Championships | Rome, Italy | 2nd | 239 ft (72.92 m) | |
| Olympic Games | Paris, France | 4th | 244 ft (74.23 m) |
6. Personal Life
Beyond her athletic achievements, Anita Włodarczyk maintains a private personal life. She was born to Andrzej and Maria Włodarczyk and has an older brother, Karol. Her early interest in sports was influenced by her father's passion for speedway. While she initially explored speedway, her natural talent for athletics, particularly in multi-event competitions like the 4-event competition, became evident during her elementary school years. This early exposure to various athletic disciplines laid the foundation for her later specialization in hammer throw.
7. Legacy and Impact
Anita Włodarczyk's legacy in the sport of hammer throw is profound and enduring. She is widely regarded as the greatest female hammer thrower of all time, a distinction earned through her consistent breaking of world records, her statistical dominance in the event, and her unprecedented Olympic success.
Her achievement of being the first woman to throw the hammer over 262 ft (80 m) marked a significant milestone, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible in women's throwing events. Her three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the hammer throw (2012, 2016, 2020) are a unique feat, making her the only woman to achieve this in a specific individual athletics event at the Olympic Games. This accomplishment not only highlights her exceptional talent and longevity but also sets a new benchmark for future athletes.
Włodarczyk's influence extends beyond her records. Her tribute to the late Polish hammer thrower Kamila Skolimowska, by using some of Skolimowska's equipment in competition, demonstrates a deep respect for the sport's history and a connection to her predecessors. This gesture serves as an inspiration, fostering a sense of continuity and camaraderie within the athletic community. Her numerous awards and honors, including the Order of Polonia Restituta and the creation of a Shero Barbie doll in her likeness, underscore her symbolic role as a national hero in Poland and an inspirational figure globally, particularly for aspiring female athletes. Her career has significantly elevated the profile of hammer throw in Polish and international athletics, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.