Brittany Riley facts for kids
Brittany Riley is an amazing athlete from the United States who is a champion in the hammer throw. She was born on August 26, 1986, in Flossmoor, Illinois. Her personal best throw is an incredible 72.51 meters, which is like throwing a hammer over 237 feet! She achieved this amazing distance in April 2007.
Meet Brittany Riley, a Hammer Throw Star
Brittany Riley is a talented athlete known for her strength and skill in the hammer throw. This sport requires a lot of power and technique. She has represented the United States in many big competitions around the world.
Her Journey to Success
Brittany has competed in several important international events, showing off her skills.
- In 2005, she won a silver medal at the Pan American Junior Championships in Windsor, Canada. Her throw was 59.72 meters.
- The next year, in 2006, she earned a gold medal at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She threw an impressive 66.30 meters!
- In 2007, she competed in two major events. She finished 5th at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a throw of 65.49 meters. Later that year, she also took part in the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
What is Hammer Throw?
The hammer throw is an exciting track and field event. Athletes throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and a handle. The "hammer" isn't really a hammer like you use for nails! It's a metal ball, usually weighing 4 kilograms (about 8.8 pounds) for women. Athletes spin around several times to build momentum before releasing the hammer as far as they can. It takes incredible strength, balance, and coordination to throw it a long distance.
