Simon Rosselli's Perfect Timing Secures World U20 Discus Gold

## Perfect Timing Pays Off for Simon Rosselli Simon Rosselli, a Washingtonian athlete, has made a name for himself in the track and field world with his impressive discus throw at the World U20 Championships. The 2026 Mead graduate saved his best performance for the final day of the competition, held at Hayward Field, which will be his home turf starting this fall when he matriculates at Oregon. Rosselli had already set two personal records (PRs) prior to the final round, with throws of 207-9 (63.32) and 210-6 (64.16). However, he was still trailing behind Jamaica's Joseph Salmon and Kamari Kennedy, as well as Estonia's Sten-Erik Iir, who had thrown 214-7 (65.42) in round 5. It seemed that Rosselli's moment had not yet arrived, but he was determined to make the most of his final attempt. ## A Game-Changing Throw In the sixth and final round, Rosselli found his groove and threw the discus an impressive 217-9 (66.39), securing the gold medal and setting new American U20 and High School Records. This throw surpassed the previous record held by Mason Finley, a Colorado prep athlete who had set the mark in 2009. Finley went on to win Senior World Championships bronze eight years later. Rosselli's victory was not just a personal achievement, but also a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. He had been training with coach TJ Crater, the director of the Iron Wood Throwers Center, since the fall of 2024. Crater had been working with Rosselli to develop consistency in his timing, and it seemed to pay off in the end. ## A Family Affair The World U20 Championships had been an emotional experience for Rosselli's family, who had been forced to evacuate their home due to the raging Spokane Complex wildfires. The family had kept communication minimal to avoid breaking Rosselli's concentration, and it was not until he walked triumphant into the mixed zone that he was informed that their home was still standing. Rosselli's win was a moment of triumph not just for him, but also for his family and community. He expressed his gratitude for the support of his friends and family, who had been affected by the wildfires. "Spokane's gone through a lot, but Spokane bands together," he said. "That's what they do. We have friends who aren't out of danger yet. It's devastating. Things will turn around." ## A Bright Future Ahead Rosselli's future in the track and field world looks bright. He has already set his sights on the Senior 2kg disc, throwing it around 62m (203-5) in practice. This would put him in NCAA top 10 territory based on the 2026 descending order list. Coach Crater is excited to see how Rosselli will progress at Oregon next season under the tutelage of Brian Blutreich, and as part of a training group that includes WR holder Mykolas Alekna. Rosselli's win at the World U20 Championships is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. He has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the track and field world, and it will be exciting to see how he continues to develop and grow as an athlete.