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:
Nova Scotia’s Sarah Mitton claims women’s shot put gold at world indoor championships
10 hours ago
Duration 3:29
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:
Sarah Mitton reacts to gold-medal win at World Athletics Indoor Championships
3 hours ago
Duration 0:47
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.
“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:
Did Sarah Mitton almost leave shot put behind? A conversation with Ariel Helwani
2 days ago
Duration 8:44
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:
American Christian Coleman captures 60-metre World Athletics Indoor Championship gold
39 minutes ago
Duration 3:28
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.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
