To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Shocked Olympic viewers demanded athlete take DNA test after spotting noticeable look

Shocked Olympic viewers demanded athlete take DNA test after spotting noticeable look

Ethan Katzberg has been hitting headlines for his distinctive look after competing in the hammer throw for Canada

We’ve had a fair few shocking moments in this year’s Olympics, from Celine Dion blowing us all away with her rendition of ‘Hymne à l'amour’ from the Eiffel Tower, to Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira being sent home after breaking a rule in the Olympic village.

And that’s just the action outside of the sporting arenas, where there’s been just as much drama.

Along with tears and tantrums, we’ve also had pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati having his hopes of a medal crushed by his own, ahem, manhood, we’ve had Simone Biles becoming the most decorated gymnast in history, we’ve had French diver Jules Bouyer raising eyebrows with his swimming trunks.

And then there’s Canadian hammer-thrower Ethan Katzberg, who’s been in headlines this week for his particularly distinctive look.

There's been a fair few shocking moments at the Paris 2024 Olympics. (François-Xavier Marit-Pool/Getty Images)
There's been a fair few shocking moments at the Paris 2024 Olympics. (François-Xavier Marit-Pool/Getty Images)

Why are people talking about Ethan Katzberg?

As a professional athlete, there's no bigger sporting stage to show off your keen eye for style - as well as your medal-winning abilities, of course - than the Olympics.

And this week, a Canadian hammer-thrower has hit the headlines for his eye-catching look.

In fact, some spectators are even demanding he take a DNA test - and it’s for a pretty hilarious reason.

Many people remarked on Ethan Katzberg's distinctive look. (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Many people remarked on Ethan Katzberg's distinctive look. (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

As well as his thick moustache, the 22-year-old Canadian also sports a lengthy curled mullet, which falls all the way past his shoulders.

Though the sportsman hails from the tiny harbour city of Nanaimo - on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia - some viewers are adamant that Katzberg has some heritage Down Under.

Taking to social media, one spectator teased: "Nah I want a DNA test, this man is clearly Australian."

Another went on to joke: "Canadians are Northern Hemisphere Australians. Request denied."

Has Ethan Katzberg responded?

While some fans have been convinced he's Australian, others have gone one further and noted how much they remind him of one very specific Aussie - Chris Hemsworth.

Well, specifically Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

Dan Williams, an interviewer for CGTN, asked Katzberg: "What do you make of that? Is this a new thing now?"

Katzberg responded: "It’s great to see that people are connecting me with so many people I would never think about and the Australian one is new, but that's great… I’m happy to see people gathering interest in me and hammer throwing and being able to make those connections."

Williams then asked: "So you don't expect a call from Hollywood any time soon? You know, 'We need a new Thor, Chris Hemsworth can't do it?'"

Katzberg laughed: “They haven’t seen my acting skills yet so I don't know."

How did Ethan Katzberg do in the Olympics?

Thankfully, however, it isn't just Katzberg's signature look that has gained him mass media attention.

After a nail-biting round of finals, the rising star won a gold medal in his category on Sunday (4 August), after he beat silver medalist, Hungary's Bence Halász, and third place star, Ukraine's Mykhaylo Kokhan.

He went home with a gold medal for his country. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
He went home with a gold medal for his country. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Other Olympians in headlines for their appearance

When it comes to visual presentation at this year's sporting tournament in Paris, several athletes have been praised for breaking the mould and taking a no-nonsense approach to image-based criticism.

One instance saw Team USA legend Simone Biles hitting back at cruel taunts aimed at the way her hair looked.

"Gonna hold your hand when I say this. Next time you wanna comment on a Black girl’s hair. JUST DON’T," she wrote online.

And American rugby star Ilona Maher also boasted an incredible response to comments about her body mass index.

After one hater said 'I bet that person has a 30% BMI', she hit back: "Hi, thank you for this comment, I think you were trying to roast me. But this actually a fact, I do have a BMI of 30, well 29.3 to be more exact."

Featured Image Credit: Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Topics: Olympics, Sport, Australia