Jennifer Dahlgren
Hammer Throw Olympian (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016)
Jenny Dahlgren is the South American record holder in the women’s hammer throw and has represented Argentina at the Olympic Games Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1984, sport has always been a pillar in Dahlgren’s life. She took up sport at age five, playing many different ones throughout her childhood.
As Dahlgren moved often with her family during her early years, sport always played a critical role in helping her acclimatise to new places, languages and customs. When she was bullied in school as a teen because of her body, she found refuge in sport. At 14, she began throwing the hammer, and there she found solace. Through her passion for hammer throwing, she built up her confidence and learned to accept and to love her body.
In 2016, Dahlgren published a children’s book called The Flying Hammer. The first story is autobiographical and teaches kids that being different can be difficult but that differences can make us extraordinary. Currently, she is working on her second children’s book and also works as a public speaker and a body positivity activist.
Dahlgren dreams of inspiring future generations of Olympians as a positive role model and through her writing. She is looking to Tokyo 2020 as her farewell from professional athletics.