Man wins world knife throwing championship after unlikely start
By Abigail Kurten
Click here for updates on this story
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A casual night out at an axe-throwing venue turned into a world championship moment for a central Iowa man who last week outperformed more than 100 competitors from across the globe.
Shane Funke of West Des Moines claimed the World Knife Throwing League Championship in Tulsa, capping a journey that began with little expectation of ever competing — let alone winning.
His introduction to the sport came as it does for many: a visit to Ironside Axe Throwing, where early attempts brought mixed results. But what started as a social activity with friends quickly evolved into something more serious, eventually leading Funke to teach the sport and refine his skills at a high level.
Asked if he ever envisioned becoming a champion, Funke didn’t hesitate.
“For knives? No,” he said.
Despite practicing for at least an hour nearly every day, he said the victory still felt surreal. In the final moments, as his last throw struck the target, he found himself overwhelmed.
“I was definitely having a mini — like not a panic attack — but I’m over on the side like, ‘Oh my God,’” Funke said.
He describes knife throwing as a discipline that demands patience, persistence and a willingness to fail repeatedly. Years of practice — and thousands of missed throws—are part of the process, he said, noting that success isn’t the only measure of growth.
“This isn’t the kind of sport you master in a day,” Funke said.
Beyond competition, Funke finds fulfillment in coaching others, especially when his students surpass him. He prides himself on encouraging those who struggle to stay motivated.
“I’m a very positive, optimistic person,” he said. “When people get discouraged, I like being that little light at the end of the tunnel — like, ‘You’ve got this. We can get it done.’”
Funke has no plans to slow down. He hopes to defend his title next year and is aiming for a perfect game, something no competitor has achieved so far.
Until then, he continues working alongside his students, many of whom now share a new goal: beating the reigning world champion.
“They all have the goal right now — like, ‘If I beat the world champ, I need to get a pin,’” Funke said. “And I’m like, you know what? If it makes you feel better, yeah — why not?”
From first-time throws to world-class competition, Funke’s story is now helping inspire the next generation of knife throwers — one throw at a time.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.