Greg Stewart is pictured here after his silver medal win at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Greg Stewart
December 05, 2023 - 6:00 PM
World champion Kamloops shot putter Greg Stewart has announced he's returning to the “shot put circle” to compete in the Paralympic Games.
The 7’2” athlete won a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics men’s shot put in 2022, with a record setting throw of 16.75 metres before announcing his retirement from the sport.
Earlier this week, Stewart, 36, posted on social media he's returning to the world stage.
“I’ve felt a sense of discomfort, disconnection from a sport that I love so much,” he said in his post. “I want to compete and actually experience the Paralympic Games, not through the eyes of COVID.”
Stewart has been an athlete most of his life, despite being born with no left arm below the elbow. He played varsity basketball for Thomson Rivers University, won three world titles with the men's standing volleyball team, and earned two Parapan American Games bronze medals on the sitting volleyball team.
He took up shot put in 2018, and connected with Dylan Armstrong, Canada's Olympic shot put bronze medalist in 2008. The following year, Stewart placed silver in shot put at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru.
He has become an inspiration for many and in previous interviews with iNFOnews.ca has expressed gratitude for “the many people in his life who have supported him throughout his career.”
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“I’m not going back to defend my title, because if I was, I wouldn’t have retired,” he said. “The scenarios have changed, the landscape is different, but I’m excited to go out there and do my best, challenges and all, and see where my story will lead me.”
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