Van Daalen: A Rising Power in Shot Put and Discus
In the world of elite track and field, few athletes demonstrate as much versatility and consistency across throwing events as Van Daalen. Specializing in both the shot put (a throwing event where a heavy spherical ball is pushed from the shoulder) and the discus (where a heavy lenticular disc is thrown for distance), she has rapidly ascended from youth competitions to the global stage.
Key Facts
- Olympic Experience: Competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
- U23 Dominance: Gold medalist in both shot put and discus at the European Athletics U23 Championships.
- Collegiate Success: Ranked third on the all-time collegiate discus list.
- Personal Best: Achieved a discus throw of 69.31m in May 2026.
- World Stage: Finalist at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Early Career and Youth Success
Van Daalen first gained international attention in 2018, representing her country at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her momentum continued at the 2018 European Athletics U18 Championships in Győr, where she secured a bronze medal in the shot put and a silver medal in the discus.
By 2021, she transitioned to the U20 level, competing at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. She demonstrated her dual-threat capability by winning silver medals in both the shot put and discus events.
Ascension to Elite Status
Van Daalen's career reached new heights at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Espoo, Finland. She dominated the competition, winning gold medals in both the shot put and the discus. Notably, her shot put victory was achieved with a distance of 18.32m, which set a European U23 leading mark.
This success paved the way for her selection for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. She continued her trajectory toward the pinnacle of the sport by competing in both the shot put and discus at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Collegiate Dominance and World Records
Competing in the United States, Van Daalen has become a powerhouse in the SEC (Southeastern Conference). In May 2025, she won the discus at the SEC Championships with a meeting record of 65.24 metres. Later that year, she competed at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where she reached the final and finished eleventh overall.
The year 2026 marked a period of significant personal breakthroughs. In April, while competing in Ramona, Oklahoma, she set a personal best of 67.99 metres on April 9, which she improved to 69.17m just three days later on April 12.
Following another SEC Championships victory in May, she threw 69.31m at the NCAA East Regional in Lexington. This performance placed her third on the all-time collegiate list, trailing only Jorinde van Klinken and Jayden Ulrich. She further cemented her legacy on June 13 by setting a new meeting record of 65.98 meters to win the women’s discus at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and later placed third at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic on July 3.
Career Performance Summary
| Year | Competition | Event | Result/Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | European U18 Championships | Shot Put / Discus | Bronze / Silver |
| 2021 | European U20 Championships | Shot Put / Discus | Silver / Silver |
| TBD | European U23 Championships | Shot Put / Discus | Gold / Gold (18.32m Shot Put) |
| 2025 | SEC Championships | Discus | 1st (65.24m) |
| 2026 | NCAA East Regional | Discus | 69.31m |
| 2026 | NCAA Outdoor Championships | Discus | 1st (65.98m) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Van Daalen's personal best in the discus?
Her highest recorded throw is 69.31m, achieved during the NCAA East Regional in Lexington in May 2026.
How does she rank in collegiate history?
Van Daalen is currently ranked third on the all-time collegiate discus list, behind only Jayden Ulrich and Jorinde van Klinken.
Which major international championships has she participated in?
She has competed in the Youth Olympics (2018), the World Athletics Championships (2023 and 2025), and the Summer Olympics in Paris (2024).
What were her achievements at the European U23 Championships?
She won gold medals in both the shot put and the discus, with her shot put mark of 18.32m leading the European U23 category.
Has she set any meeting records?
Yes, she set meeting records for the discus at both the 2025 SEC Championships (65.24m) and the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships (65.98m).