'Back to business': Shot putter Mitton eyes Diamond League Final after earning world silver
CBC
Sarah Mitton enjoyed a beer, popped a bottle of champagne and saw the sights of Budapest while celebrating her first world championship medal, and then it was back to business for the Canadian athlete.
Since earning shot put silver on Aug. 26 in Hungary, "Brussels" has been code for "no thank you" between Mitton and longtime coach Rich Parkinson when someone has offered a drink, helping her remain disciplined and focused ahead of Thursday's 12 p.m. ET Diamond League street competition at the Place de la Monnaie in Belgium.
"It's been a bit surreal, same thing I learned last year," said Mitton, who was fourth at the 2022 worlds in Eugene, Ore. "The season goes on after [the event] so I'm trying to celebrate the wins as they come."
Recently, Mitton received good advice from New Zealand thrower Tom Walsh, the two-time Olympic bronze medallist who captured world gold in 2017 and bronze two years later.
"He said to take the proper time to celebrate," Mitton recalled from Brussels in a phone interview with CBC Sports. "If you don't, the moment passes, and you'll regret it in the future."
WATCH | Mitton holds off Olympic champion for world silver medal:
Upon arriving in Belgium, Parkinson told Mitton to take time for herself, that they didn't need to go sightseeing following four days of training in Prague.
"For the last 10 days, it's been back to business. We're here for a purpose," said the coach, who also received a silver medal from Mitton's achievement at worlds. "We're here to do well, hopefully win Brussels and move on to Eugene [and the Sept. 16-17 Diamond League Final]."
Mitton and world No. 1 Chase Ealey of the United States are tied for third in the season standings with 12 points, four ahead of seventh-place Jessica Woodard. Germany's Sara Gambetta occupies the sixth and last spot in qualifying for the Final, which ends Thursday, but isn't on the entry list.
Dutch thrower Jessica Schilder (seven points) and Sweden's Fanny Roos (four) are eighth and ninth, respectively. All season, athletes have been awarded points for their placing at each meet.
"There's more than six of us that deserve to be [in the Final]. I'm not going to let it be myself," said world No. 2 Mitton, who won her first Diamond League competition on June 15 in Oslo, Norway. "I've learned to struggle through meets before and come out on top, so I'm excited.
"Street meets are a lot of fun. It's interactive, the fans are close, there's a lot of energy so I think, honestly, that will help carry me through."
WATCH | Mitton wins women's shot put at Bislett Games in Norway:
The 27-year-old Mitton from Brooklyn, N.S., noted post-worlds fatigue is real, something the reigning Canadian champion experienced a year ago when she won Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham, England a little over two weeks after worlds.
