Greg Stewart celebrating his silver medal at the 2019 Para Athletic World Championships in Dubai in November. The Kamloops native has his sights set on earning a spot at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo (Image Credit: Canadian Paralympic Committee)

By Chad Klassen

GREG STEWART

Reflecting on Greg Stewart’s 2019 season, looking forward to his Tokyo 2020 bid

Dec 20, 2019 | 1:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — Greg Stewart is on a high as the year comes to an end.

Two silver medals at major competitions, including the 2019 Para World Athletic Championships in Dubai, have motivated him to reach even higher.

“You know when you finally are really confident in something that you can do? You just know you’re good at what you’re doing,” Stewart asked. “I had that feeling on my very last throw in Dubai [a personal best and Canadian record of 16.30 metres]. I connected properly and my legs were in the right spot. I got a good feel of a release. Now that I’ve had that feeling, that feeling is now being put into all my throws moving forward. My confidence has risen dramatically.”

But Stewart didn’t always have that confidence this season, even dating back to this year’s Parapan Am Games in Peru. The 33-year-old injured his back the day before he flew out to Lima. But he fought through it to compete and earned a silver medal.

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“The big thing I learned there was perseverance and trusting the process, whether you’re injured or not,” he said. “Just trusting in the fact that I have the support team, I have my coach, I’ve got the support of my family and friends in the community.”

If the Parapan Am silver was a lesson in mental toughness, the worlds in Dubai took it to another level. Upon arrival, Stewart questioned whether he was even good enough to be there.

“Yeah, I’ve thrown far, but I’ve never thrown far in a competition that meant something. On top of it, I’m with this group of athletes from all over the world who are representing their country because they are the best in their country. To show up there, I was like ‘I’m a nobody here’,” he remembers thinking.

But again, Stewart came out on the other side with a silver medal. It’s the fifth international medal won by a Kamloops Track and Field Club member, joining his coach Dylan Armstrong and Gary Reed.

His final throw was also a personal best of 16.30 metres, also a Canadian record.

“That’s Greg’s first world championships, so to come out like that, tons of confidence going into next year going into the Tokyo Olympics,” said Armstrong.

That’s what Stewart has his sights set on — the 2020 Paralympic Games. He is now a full-time professional athlete.

“This is what I do. When you’re walking around the track, they’re going to see me here either training or stretching, or if not I’ll be up getting massage or getting physio. This is my life now,” he noted.

Stewart says he’s not resting on his two silvers. He wants to get to Japan.

“It’s been a dream I’ve had for a long time,” Stewart said as his eyes started to water. “I’m now setting sail to become that person I’ve always wanted to be. I’ve always been that person, but this is just a step that I’ve always wanted to achieve.”