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.
WATCH | Mitton reacts to gold-medal win at World Athletics Indoor Championships:
The Canadian shot putter also set a national record with a throw of 20.22 metres in Glasgow.
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.
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.
Coleman upsets Lyles in anticipated 60m
In the most anticipated event of the meet, star sprinter Noah Lyles was upset by fellow American Christian Coleman in the men’s 60m. Lyles, who captured three gold medals at last summer’s outdoor world championships, was trying to become the first man this century to win world titles at 60, 100 and 200 metres in the same year.
Coleman, the world-record holder in the 60m and a former world champion in the 100m before he was suspended for the 2021 Olympics for missing too many drug tests, shot out of the blocks and held on to win in 6.41 seconds, the fastest time this year. Lyles got the silver in 6.44 and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake took bronze in 6.46.
Top-ranked men’s shot putter Ryan Crouser of the United States added his first indoor worlds gold to his two Olympic and two outdoor world titles. In the women’s high jump, Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers upset outdoor world champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine to claim her first world title.
WATCH | Coleman defeats favoured Lyles to capture 60m gold:
Christian Coleman of the U.S. ran to a winning time of 6.41 Friday, claiming the victory at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
