Greg Stewart. (Photo via @Paralympics/twitter)
Golden Greg.
“I’m feeling the love from Kamloops and the community tonight,” Greg Stewart told NL Sports this morning.
The Kamloops Paralympian is relishing his gold medal and new Paralympic record after a record setting performance in Tokyo. His first throw of 16.75 metres led from start to finish beating out Russia’s Nikita Prokhorov, who won silver, and American Joshua Cinnamo, who took home the bronze.
Stewart says that was the game plan he formed with Coach and Olympic medalist Dylan Armstrong.
“You just have to go out there and punch it… give’r hell. If you can throw a good first, you know you get in the head of all the other competitors,” he said. “I annihilated that first throw man.”
The 35-year-old has been soaking it all in, and says the moment on the podium with the gold medal and the Canadian anthem playing was emotional. Stewart shed some tears behind his mask as the anthem played.
“I’m grateful for masks! It hides the ugly cry when you’re up there,” he said, with a chuckle. “I honestly was just thinking about that I don’t have to prove myself anymore.”
“This was my dedication, this was my hard work. This was my ability to push through the pandemic, the crazy restrictions, push through life. Those were tears of gratefulness.”
Stewart says his family and friends gathered at the Frick & Frack Taphouse in downtown Kamloops to watch him compete.
He will fly home from Tokyo on Friday.
Pacific Sport Interior BC has announced plans for a welcome celebration with Greg Stewart along with other Olympians, Paralympians, coaches and support staff who attended the games.
It will take place at Hillside Stadium next Wednesday, September 8, at 4 p.m.
. @PacificSportINT set to throw a welcome home for Greg Stewart, plus other Olympians, coaches and support staff who attended. A week from today. pic.twitter.com/CMQ7O2bZI4
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) September 1, 2021
Holding back the tears during the Oh Canada
. pic.twitter.com/Q5K2mvC1cU
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) September 1, 2021
Greg Stewart #CAN puts on an huge performance to take #Gold in the men’s F46 shot put
That’s Canada’s second gold of the Games!#Silver goes to Nikita Prokhorov #RPC, #Bronze for Joshua Cinnamo #USA#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/SRVuDm5IQn
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 1, 2021
Greg, you’re golden
In his first Games, Greg Stewart from Kamloops, B.C. is a Paralympic champion and Paralympic record holder
Feeling all the emotions during O Canada
— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) September 1, 2021
