Camryn Rogers, the world and Olympic champion in women's hammer throw from Canada, expressed her initial excitement when World Athletics announced the Ultimate Championship, a new event aimed at attracting fans and offering substantial cash prizes. However, her enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment when she learned that the women's hammer throw would not be included in the competition.

The Ultimate Championship, scheduled for September 11-13 in Budapest, will feature men's hammer throw, allowing Canadian Ethan Katzberg, the men's world and Olympic champion, to compete for a prize of $150,000. In contrast, Rogers feels sidelined and frustrated by the exclusion of her event. "I love my sport, I will fight for my sport until the day I die, but sometimes things like this make it really hard," she said.

Rogers criticized the decision, stating that it does not align with the current trend of promoting women's sports. She fears that the omission of women's hammer throw reflects a broader issue within track and field, which she believes should showcase a variety of skills and body types. Other throwing events, such as discus and shot put, are also excluded from the Ultimate Championship, but the impact is particularly significant for Rogers, who has faced challenges in finding competitive opportunities for her discipline.

While athletes like Canadian Sarah Mitton, a world shot put medalist, can participate in various competitions, including the world indoor tour and Diamond League meets, hammer throwers are left without major events to showcase their talents. In 2026, a year without world championships or the Olympics, Rogers will have no global platform or significant financial opportunities.

The Ultimate Championship was announced last year, and World Athletics has since promoted the event through various channels, including a tracking tool and details about upcoming Diamond League meets. However, women's hammer throw remains the only field event excluded from these promotions. Rogers expressed her frustration, saying, "It’s just really frustrating to see us continuously sort of abandoned and left by the wayside... I feel as if they deem (it) doesn’t matter, which hurts me so deeply because I know how much my sport has done for me. It completely changed my life."

Rogers discovered throwing at age 12 and credits the sport with empowering her. She has since achieved significant milestones, including setting collegiate records at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned three degrees. She graduated just before winning her first world title in Budapest in 2023 and went on to secure Olympic gold in Paris in 2024.

Despite her success, Rogers is now seeking part-time remote work to balance with her training, which will increase to five to six hours a day. She is fortunate to have Nike as a sponsor through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but the value of such sponsorships is often tied to performance in major competitions. The prize for the Ultimate Championship winners is more than double what Rogers earned for her world title-winning throw of 80.51 meters in Tokyo, which was the longest throw in nearly a decade.

World Athletics has stated that the schedule for the Ultimate Championship was developed based on research and feedback from fans, aiming to create a format that meets modern expectations for elite competition. However, the decision to exclude women's hammer throw has raised questions about the future of track and field.

Coaches and athletes have criticized the governing body for not providing clear reasons for the exclusions. Mohamad Saatara, Rogers' coach, speculated that the inclusion of men's hammer may be influenced by Hungary's strong men's team. He also argued that the perception that field events are less interesting is misguided, suggesting that better marketing and technology could enhance their appeal.

Rogers highlighted the importance of representation in sports, noting that her visibility has inspired young girls to take up throwing. She lamented that the lack of women's events in Budapest will hinder similar opportunities for future athletes. "It really calls into question what the future of track and field looks like," she said, raising concerns about which events are prioritized and what that means for the sport's growth and inclusivity.