BUDAPEST — Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg suffered a stunning upset Friday, failing to record a mark in the men’s hammer throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

The Canadian was eliminated after the opening two rounds, while Germany’s Merlin Hummel, who finished second to Katzberg at the 2025 world championships in Tokyo, won with a throw of 81.46 metres.

Katzberg, from Nanaimo, B.C., entered as the world’s top-ranked hammer thrower after winning the last two world championships, this summer’s Commonwealth Games and the Diamond League title.

The Canadian quartet of Eliezer Adjibi, Audrey Leduc, Brendon Rodney and Sade McCreath just missed the mixed 4-by-100-metre podium, finishing fourth in 40.34 seconds behind the United States (39.64), Jamaica (39.72) and England (40.26).

Christopher Morales Williams of Vaughan, Ont., placed fifth in his men’s 400-metre semifinal in 44.98 seconds, missing the four-man final.

Unlike the Olympics and world championships, no medals are awarded at the Ultimate Championship. Instead, athletes are competing for a share of a US$10-million prize pool, with each event winner earning $150,000.

The three-day championship continues Saturday. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2026.