Canada’s Sarah Mitton wins women’s shot put gold at world indoor championships
Sarah Mitton will arrive at this summer’s Paris Olympic Games as a world champion.
The 27-year-old broke a Canadian record twice on her way to women’s shot put gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships on Friday in Glasgow, Scotland.
Mitton, of Brooklyn, N.S., won the event with a new national indoor record throw of 20.22 metres.
“I still think it’s settling in, but I am so excited. I’ve been in second and third [place] a lot and I’m excited to come out on top and start my year off strong heading into Paris,” Mitton told CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux.
WATCH | Mitton claims gold in Glasgow:
Sarah Mitton of Brooklyn, N.S., broke the Canadian women’s indoor shot put record twice, to win gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Mitton had the gold medal wrapped up before her final attempt, having thrown a distance of 20.20 metres in her fourth attempt before pushing the record to 20.22m.
Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye (20.19m) captured silver while American Chase Jackson (19.67m) took bronze.
Mitton set the new Canadian indoor record mark with her final attempt, having already wrapped up the gold medal with a mark of 20.20m in her fourth throw.
“The sixth round is just my specialty, that’s where all my big throws are. So I knew if anyone came back for me I was going to be able to respond,” she said.
🇨🇦Sarah Mitton makes history becoming Canada’s first shot put world champion.<br><br>We talked about how she did it — and then in the middle of our interview she’s embraced by her coach Richard Parkinson.<br><br>Golden moment. The first medal of the World Indoor Championships goes to Canada. <a href=”https://t.co/4Q6HVbEDTi”>pic.twitter.com/4Q6HVbEDTi</a>
—@Devin_Heroux
Mitton says she has been working at being consistent with her performances, and doing so on the biggest stages.
“To be the world champion, that sounds amazing,” Mitton told Reuters. “I was not able to say that before and now, I am probably never going to stop saying it. This is the moment that cannot be taken away from you.
“Everything is a progression and every year, I am becoming a little bit better. It’s also about learning how to win and how to handle yourself in different environments. Now I’m confident and comfortable, I think I’m able to show great performances.”
The world title is just the latest accomplishment for Mitton, who is the world silver medallist from the Budapest world championships last summer, Commonwealth Games champion and Pan American Games champion.
Now, her attention turns toward Paris 2024.
“Obviously, it is an Olympic year and everything is gearing up. This is really a big stepping stone on the way and I’m excited to see how we can translate this into Paris [Olympics],” Mitton said.
WATCH | Did Sarah Mitton almost leave shot put behind? A conversation with Ariel Helwani:
CBC Olympics host Ariel Helwani sits down with world championship silver medallist Sarah Mitton to talk about her Olympic experience, goals for Paris, and how close she came to leaving the sport of shot put.
