Nova Scotian Sarah Mitton Strikes Gold at World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow

Glasgow, United Kingdom, March 3, 2024 – In the opening session of the World Athletics Indoor Championships, it was a native of Nova Scotia, Canada who claimed the first gold medal of the event. 27-year-old marine biologist Sarah Mitton rose to the occasion in the women’s shot put final, emerging victorious by a slim margin of just 3 centimeters.

Runner-up to American Chase Ealey (now Jackson) at the outdoor World Championships in Budapest last August, Mitton snatched the lead in the fourth round with a throw of 20.20 meters. She then improved on that mark with a final flourish of 20.22 meters, securing the gold medal before the competition concluded.

Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye, who had led from the opening round with a personal best of 20.19 meters, had to settle for the silver medal. Ealey, the winner of the last two outdoor world titles, claimed bronze with a best throw of 19.67 meters.

“It feels amazing to win my first global title,” said an elated Mitton, who had also won Commonwealth gold in Birmingham, England last year. “I’m really excited by the distances all the women are throwing. It always comes down to small margins.”

Mitton entered the final as the second-best performer on the 2024 world list, having thrown 20.08 meters – the farthest ever by a Canadian woman indoors – in the Czech Republic just a few weeks prior. In Glasgow, she opened with 19.40 meters before Ogunleye’s stunning 20.19-meter effort in the first round.

The competition remained tight throughout, with Mitton fouling in the second round but then improving to 19.81 meters before her decisive fourth-round throw. Ogunleye managed one more mark of 19.71 meters in the third round, while Ealey produced a consistent series highlighted by a best of 19.67 meters.

“Scotland’s definitely my new favourite place outside of Nova Scotia. I’ll be coming back,” Mitton concluded, delighted with her breakthrough victory on the global stage.

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