Doctor Mackenzie Little Wins Javelin Bronze at 2025 World Championships

Dr. Mackenzie Little, a full-time doctor at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney and a professional javelin thrower, won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Despite a demanding schedule that includes night shifts in the emergency department where she recently saved a man's life from a heart attack, Little managed to throw 63.58 meters, securing her second consecutive world championship bronze. Her performance was notable given the physical and emotional challenges of balancing her medical career with elite athletics, including recovering from a disappointing 12th-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Little's qualifying throw of 65.54 meters was superior to all final round throws but did not count towards medal placements, which are determined solely by final round distances. Ecuador's Juleisy Angulo won gold with a national record throw of 65.12 meters, and Latvia's Anete Sietina took silver with a personal best of 64.64 meters. Little's achievements highlight the difficulties faced by athletes juggling dual careers and raise questions about support for such multi-talented sportspeople in Australia.