Kristen Dajia, CAN - W61

In 1975, my elementary school got a "Wintario" Grant from the government and bought discuses and shot puts! I was hooked, the discus just flew out of my hand! Then in 1976, before the Montreal Olympics, a travelling exhibition came to my town of 1600 people and I went and visited it everyday - I remember Bishop Dolegiewicz was showcased in the display as the only Canadian competing in the discus. In 1986, while completing my Phys Ed degree at York University in Toronto, I was throwing the discus for fun and was approached by a few people to begin throwing the hammer, a new event for women along with triple jump and pole vault in track and field around the world. Valentin Chumak a coach from Ukraine, taught me everything I know about the hammer. Through the work of Cecil Smith, president of CTFA (Athletics Canada) Canada became one of the first countries in the world to feature women's hammer in our National Championships in Ottawa in 1987.