A hammer throw of 82.98 metres stands as the current women's world record, a distance established by Anita Włodarczyk in Warsaw in 2016. This benchmark is part of a dominant career that redefined the event, making the Polish athlete the first woman in history to exceed the 80-metre barrier in competition.
Early Competitive Development
Włodarczyk began making an impact on the international stage in 2007, winning the national U23 championships. By 2008, she secured a fourth-place finish at the Olympic Games. Her progress continued in 2009 with a gold medal at the European Team Championships and a consistent string of record-breaking performances in Biała Podlaska, Ostrava, and Cottbus.
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The 2009 World Championships in Berlin saw Włodarczyk claim her first world record with a distance of 77.96 metres. Following an ankle injury, she returned to prominence in 2010 by setting a new world-leading mark of 78.30 metres at the Enea Cup in Bydgoszcz. She further solidified her status by becoming the first female athlete to surpass 80 metres, recording 81.08 metres in 2015.
Olympic Dominance and Legacy
Włodarczyk achieved historic success by winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the hammer throw during the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Games. Her 2016 victory in Rio featured a world record throw of 82.29 metres. She is recognized as the only woman to win a specific individual athletics event at three successive Olympic Games.
Professional Honours
In recognition of her athletic achievements, Włodarczyk has received several high-level state decorations, including the Knight, Officer, and Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. She was named the Polish Sportspersonality of the Year in 2016. In 2021, her influence was further marked by the creation of a commemorative Shero Barbie doll.
Fast facts
- Born: 1985
- Sport: Hammer throw
- Citizenship: Poland
- World record: 82.98 metres
- Olympic gold medals: 3
- Award: Polish Sportspersonality of the Year (2016)
- Order of Polonia Restituta: Knight, Officer, and Commander with Star
Questions readers ask
What is Anita Włodarczyk's world record distance?
Her world record distance is 82.98 metres, achieved in 2016.
How many Olympic gold medals has she won?
She has won three Olympic gold medals in the hammer throw, secured in 2012, 2016, and 2020.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Worked as athletics competitor
