Back in 2023, at the World Championships in Budapest, Team USA reigned supreme with 12 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze medals, 29 in total, cementing their status as the powerhouse of track and field. Fast forward to Day 6 of the 2025 edition, and the Americans are already making waves with 10 medals (7 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze). Sure, the sting of Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson losing their world titles may linger, but this squad refuses to bend. Proof? Curtis Thompson’s bronze in the javelin, ending an 18-year drought for the U.S. in the event and etching his name in history.

With giants like Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Arshad Nadeem, and Julian Weber in the field, Curtis Thompson entered as the ultimate underdog, a storyline straight out of a Hollywood director’s cut. In the heats, he launched a massive 84.72m throw to finish fourth, just behind Nadeem, surprising many with his form. But the real shock came in the finals, where Thompson opened with an 86.67 m throw to secure bronze.

In doing so, he etched his name in history, ending an 18-year medal drought for the USA in javelin. The last American to stand on the podium was Breaux Greer, who claimed bronze at the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. It is also the USA’s third-ever medal in the men’s javelin. It was a rough day for the world’s top javelin throwers, Chopra, Nadeem, and Weber, all of whom fell short when it mattered most. They had dazzled in the heats and semifinals, but under the bright lights of the final, the stage seemed to trip them up.

Neeraj’s best effort at the National Stadium came on his second attempt with an 84.03m throw. The two-time Olympic medallist, however, missed out on the final round after slipping outside the top six in the fifth attempt. Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem also endured a disappointing outing, finishing 10th with 82.75m, while Julian Weber had to settle for fifth place, just behind India’s Sachin Yadav.

If we shift focus to the winners, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott stole the show with a massive 88.16m throw to clinch gold. Thirteen years after conquering the 2012 World Juniors in Barcelona and striking Olympic gold in London, Walcott has risen again. Talk about longevity! Grenada’s Anderson Peters wasn’t far behind, securing silver with 87.38m. Walcott, Peters, and Thompson turned this into an underdogs’ showdown—but here’s the twist: what if Thompson was never even meant to throw the javelin? Let’s find out. Walcott, Peters, and Thompson turned this into an underdogs’ showdown—but here’s the twist: what if Thompson was never even meant to throw the javelin? Let’s find out.

Curtis Thompson found Javelin by accident

Standing six feet tall and weighing 102 kilos, American Curtis Thompson might have been a football star in another life. Yet, against all odds, it’s the javelin that has captured his imagination like no other sport. And make no mistake, Thompson is a phenomenal thrower. To date, only two Americans have ever hurled the javelin farther than him. Guess what, he found the sport by accident: “My mom’s side is from Jamaica, and there were a few who played badminton, which is one of the sports we played at cookouts or get-togethers.”

Growing up in New Jersey, the athlete dabbled in a whirlwind of sports, including badminton, thanks to his family’s deep-rooted connections. “Outside of playing football, I also tried basketball and baseball. I gave soccer a try when I was little, but didn’t like it. And then when I got to high school, I played basketball, football and track. Over the years, I would drop one sport. I stopped playing basketball after my second year of high school. And then after my third year, I stopped playing football and just focused on javelin.” 

As per him, Javelin was much easier than Football. Initially running track to boost his football speed, he grew bored of endless sprint drills and one day approached the javelin coach, asking, “Can I throw that stick thing?” And that began the tale of his track and field journey. “By the end of my junior year, I had gone over 200 feet and became the number one US thrower at that time. That was the moment I realised I am good at it.” Years down the line, and now he holds the Bronze medal at the World Championships 2025. Regardless, what are your thoughts on him? Do tell us in the comments below.