The silent crisis in US throwing events
From the outside, the American throwing scene is on top of the world. We are in the process of preparing to do our regular HMMR Podcast world championships preview episode and the US looks as strong as ever in the throws after two great major championships in a row. Just look at the world lists for 2025 as well: world leads in 3 of the 8 throwing events (women’s shot put, discus, and hammer), second position in 2 more (men’s hammer and shot put), and top 5 in another 2 events (men’s javelin and discus).
However all is not well in paradise. The American development model outsources development to public and private universities and changes in the NCAA landscape mean that beneath the surface, the foundation of our success is beginning to erode. Unless we take decisive action, the throwing events could face a major decline by the 2032 Olympic cycle.
Roster limits and lost opportunities
The fallout from the recent lawsuit against the NCAA means that on the one hand scholarship limitations are gone and athletes can receive more income, but on the other hand new roster limtations are put in place. With few schools ready to invest more in non-revenue sports, the change in scholarship limits and income sharing will not bring much help to developing throwers. The biggest impact on the throwing community will be felt (and already is being felt) by the roster limitations. Fewer athletes will get opportunities to compete at the Division I level. Throwers, who already face tough competition for scholarships, are being squeezed out more than ever. If high school athletes know their chances of competing in college are slim, many won’t even enter the sport in the first place. Andpromising walk ons that made up the grass roots of our sport will become something of the past.
Training our competition
At the same time, Power 4 schools are recruiting internationally at unprecedented levels. With few roster spots for throwers, they need to make sure everyone can deliver from day one. The best way to do that is to find a proven commodity and they are searching the world for them. This is nothing new, but the trend will continue: instead of building up American athletes, we are providing world-class training and resources to foreign competitors who will one day line up against us in World Championships and Olympic Games. The main difference is that it used to just be foreign athletes taking scholarships. Now they are taking roster spots and could preclude Americans from even having a spot on the team. We are literally developing other countries’ medalists while leaving our own talent behind.
No path beyond college
Even for those who make it through college, the pathway forward is grim. Unlike many nations with state-funded training centers and support systems, US throwers receive little financial backing. With no professional leagues and minimal sponsorship opportunities, athletes are forced to choose between financial stability and continuing their careers. Too often, they walk away. Can you blame them: a decade of struggle and accumulating debt for the chance to make a team? It’s not easy beying a post collegiate thrower.
A shrinking coaching pipeline
The impact of the recent NCAA changes will already be felt in the next decade. But a second impact will hit over the longer term as well since this problem is not limited to athletes. Many of today’s successful throws coaches were once walk-ons or late bloomers themselves — products of the deep participation that once existed. If participation declines at the grass roots level, so too will the number and quality of future coaches. Without them, the cycle of development grows even weaken as the years go on.
What’s at stake
The next few years may not show an immediate decline — our current athletes will still carry the flag in Los Angeles 2028. But by 2032, the cracks will be undeniable. With fewer opportunities, less funding, and declining grassroots interest, the US risks losing its place as a global leader in the throwing events. This is not just about medals. It’s about the opportunities we provide our young athletes, the legacy of our programs, and the future of American track and field. If we don’t act now, we may find ourselves training the next generation of champions — only to watch them stand on the podium beneath someone else’s flag.
