Kamloops para shot put athlete Greg Stewart is going to Lima, Peru later this month to compete in the 2019 Para Pan Am Games (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

2019 PARA PAN AM GAMES

Stewart looking forward to more competition at upcoming Para Pan Am Games

Aug 6, 2019 | 6:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been an incredible year for Greg Stewart, undefeated so far this season, winning gold at four major meets.

The para shot putter from Kamloops is ranked No. 1 in the world going to the Para Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru from Aug. 23 to Sept. 1.

“I’ve got to say I’m pretty excited,” said Stewart. “The last time I attended the Para Pan Ams was in 2011 in Guadalajara when I was playing volleyball. To change it up now, to go from a team aspect to an individual thing is pretty cool.”

You would think Stewart would be on a high after winning the Canadian championships last weekend. But Stewart knows he has some things to tweak if he wants to taste more success in Peru.

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“Nationals wasn’t the best meet for me. I won, and I’m grateful for that, but I didn’t throw very well, so I Iearned a lot from this past weekend and I’m hoping to use that stuff that I learned working with my mental health coach, working with the director, working with Dylan [Armstrong] to dig a little deeper to figure out what happened there,” said Stewart.

His winning throw at the Canadian championships was 15.14 metres. It was short of his Canadian record of 15.82 metres, thrown at the B.C. Track & Field Championships in Kamloops last month.

Stewart’s coach, Armstrong, likes his chances at the Para Pan Am Games.

“He’s capable of a monster throw. It’s going to depend on him putting it on that day,” said Armstrong. “Our numbers are showing that he’s ready for a big one, so we’ll see what happens.”

Stewart will be competing against the top-ranked American thrower, Josh Cinnamo. Armstrong says it’ll be a good experience for him.

Greg Stewart preparing for the Para Pan Am Games next to Hillside Stadium in Kamloops (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

“Greg definitely needs some competition. He hasn’t had any really in the last two years,” said Armstrong. “So for him to step it up and go down to the Pan Am Games, it’s definitely going to help his confidence going into the world championships in Dubai.”

Stewart is not the only Kamloops-trained athlete going to the Para Pan Am Games. Josh Farrell, who finished second to Stewart at the Canadian championships, will also be competing in Lima.

Stewart is pushing towards the world championships in November in Dubai before eyeing the 2020 Paralympic Summer Games in Tokyo.