Kamloops’ Stewart wins silver at worlds in first international event since coming out of retirement

KOBE, JAPAN — Greg Stewart of Kamloops is the first Canadian to reach the podium at the World Para Athletics Championships, which are taking place in Kobe, Japan.

He won silver on Wednesday (May 22) in men’s F46 shot put, with a season-best throw of 16.14 metres.

Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India posted a mark of 16.30m to win gold.

“Retirement was great,” Stewart said in a post on social media following the event. “Bought a house, proposed to my fiancé, started a good career, but sport was missing. I’m glad to have returned.”

Stewart, who was born without the lower part of his left arm, announced his retirement from high-performance sport in June of 2022.

He went out on top, having earned gold at the 2020 Paralympic Summer Games, which were postponed and held in 2021 in Tokyo.

Stewart threw 16.75m at the event to eclipse his own Canadian record and the Paralympics record.

His efforts to reach the Paralympics began in 2001, with stints on the national standing and seated disabled volleyball teams yielding gold medals at world championships and world cups.

Stewart had an outstanding basketball career with the TRU WolfPack and earned Canadian Interuniversity Sport defensive player of the year honours in 2011.

The big fella moved the implement 13.08m at his first International Paralympic Committee-sanctioned shot put event in 2017.

His growth over the next two years was phenomenal under the tutelage of Olympic bronze medallist shot putter Dylan Armstrong of the Kamloops Track and Field Club.

Stewart won silver in the men’s F46 division at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, throwing 16.30m to establish a Canadian record and dismantle his own personal best.

He bested that mark on Throw 1 in Tokyo in 2021 to claim gold for Canada.

Stewart is setting his sights on the Paralympics this summer in Paris and earned Canada a quota spot in the F46 men’s shot put at the event with his performance on Wednesday.

“What a fun competition,” Stewart said in the 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, first or 14th. Looking forward to building toward Paris 2024.”