Troschke hammers out bronze at Canada Games

Local hammer thrower Andreas Troschke nabbed himself a bronze medal at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg yesterday.

"I'm happy with a medal," said Troschke. "I'd be really bummed out if I didn't win a medal. So bronze is all right. I'll take it."

Troschke says the podium finish comes despite some tricky competition conditions.

"Everyone was having a bit of a rough time adjusting to what was a very slick circle – myself included," he said. "So I was happy to finally get a decent throw."

Troschke said that during a preparation meet held at the same venue a few weeks back, there were complaints that the throwing circle was dirty, and he said organizers might have overcompensated.

"They got it absolutely completely shiny, spotless and smooth," he said.

Troschke said that makes it hard to control your rotation, especially when you get up to speed, and that can throw off your timing. But, the show must go on.

"I think that might have been a bit of an issue, but whatever." He said. "Smooth circles are smooth circles: you've got to adapt and compete in all kinds of conditions."

Troschke was the top seed going into Tuesday's event, with a personal best of 54.92 metres. His 50.69-metre throw put him within a metre of silver (51.14m from B.C.'s Peter Bencke), not to mention his personal best (PB) was within range of the 54.5-metre gold medal throw by B.C.'s Sam Willett.

"(There was) a bit of a gap between what we actually threw in the competition, but going off of my personal best, I actually could have grabbed gold today," he said, "which is why I am not entirely happy. But I was close – I was competitive."

Beyond his competition, Troschke said the games, which are held every four years and draw some 4,000 development athletes from across the country, have been a lot of fun.

"I've really enjoyed it, seeing all the provinces and territories here, and everyone is really passionate about their team," he said. "It's been a hell of a time watching all these teams chanting and ringing cow bells and cheering on one another."

Troschke also qualified for the finals in discus, and will be in the hunt for another podium finish on Friday, but he's already got his sights set further down the road for his hammer throwing.

"I'll be back here again in four years, and next time I guess I am hoping for gold. That's the plan."