Greg Stewart wins silver in shotput at World Para Athletics Championships

KOBE, Japan – Paralympic champion Greg Stewart of Kamloops, B.C. produced Canada’s first medal at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships on Wednesday with a silver in the men’s F46 shotput event.

With the performance, the seven-foot-two Stewart, born without the lower part of his left arm, also earns Canada a quota spot in the event for this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.

Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India won the gold medal with an Asian record 16.30 metres achieved on his sixth and final throw. Stewart, 38, landed his season’s best 16.14 on his last throw while Luka Bakovic of Croatia, the leader entering the final round, was third at 16.04.

‘’ What a fun competition,” said Stewart on his Instagram post. ‘’Our sport has grown so much. The athletes competing are continuing to better our program and the Paralympic movement. Congrats to all the athletes, 1st or 14th. Looking forward to building towards Paris 2024.’’

After his Paralympic Games victory in Tokyo, Stewart announced his retirement from competitive sport in 2022. But just over a year later he admitted he felt a discomfort from being disconnected from the sport he loved and returned to the playing field.

‘’Retirement was great, bought a house, proposed to my fiancé, started a good career, but sport was missing,’’ he continued on his Instagram post Wednesday. ‘’I’m glad to have returned. Today was my return to international competition.’’

Katie Pegg of Scarborough, Ont. was the other Canadian action on Wednesday and placed fifth in the women’s F46 shotput.

Before becoming a thrower in athletics, Stewart already possessed an impressive sports resume. He was a member of Canada’s national sitting volleyball team highlighted by bronze medals at the 2007 and 2011 Parapan American Games.

He also won three world titles with the men’s Para standing volleyball team. When he attended Thomson Rivers University he was a star on the varsity basketball team and named USport defensive player of the year in 2011.

In his rookie season in Para athletics in 2018, Stewart was ranked number one in the world in the F46 men’s shotput. He is coached by Patrick Waters since his return from retirement. 

With Stewart absent for the the world championships in Paris last year, Canada’s 25 -member team nailed down 10 qualification spots for the 2024 Games. The team won 14 medals (two gold, seven silver and five bronze), its best worlds since 2013.

Competition in Kobe continues Thursday with Jesse Zesseu of Toronto competing in the men’s T37 long jump. Top-two finishes earn a quota spot for a nation.