‘Glasgow 2026, it’ll be monumental!’ – shot put champion Sarah Mitton
Growing up, Sarah Mitton saw Commonwealth competition as the “pinnacle” of sporting endeavour and securing victory in her Games debut, at Birmingham 2022, only deepened the passion she feels for the “phenomenal” multi-sport event.
Whilst the 29-year-old is targeting a title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, in her event which begins on 20 Sept, the shot putter admits she is already “so excited” about the prospect of returning to the Commonwealth arena in Glasgow.
“When I started in track and field I remember watching the Commonwealth Games, it was in Glasgow (in 2014) at the time and I didn’t really understand the Diamond League’s and all that, but I knew in Canada the Commonwealth Games were a really big deal,” she recalls.
“I just missed out on making that Gold Coast team in 2018 and I was quite devastated, but it meant that when I qualified for Birmingham (2022) I was in a really great place in my career.”
A solitary first round throw of 18.24m was enough for Mitton to ease into the Commonwealth final, just behind reigning champion Danniel Thomas-Dodd from Jamaica.
Just over 24 hours later they and the rest of the 12-strong qualifying field lined-up for the final.
The Canadian lay in third heading into the sixth and final round, with a best distance of 18.29m, well short of the efforts delivered by Thomas-Dodd (19.98m) and New Zealand’s Maddi Wesche (18.84m).
However, Mitton truly rose to the occasion in the high-pressure finale; throwing a colossal 19.03m, to snatch victory.
“Not many people can say they won a gold medal in their first Commonwealth Games, so that was really special,” she admits. “Particularly as I’d actually gotten Covid just before the Games and only managed to sneak myself in when my tests came back negative.
“After that I came out ‘all guns blazing’ to try and win the gold I thought was within my reach.
Mitton continues; “What I really loved is there's obviously quite a bit of competition in the women's shot put in the Commonwealth Games with some phenomenal athletes from New Zealand, Jamaica, across Scotland and the whole of Great Britain, so I really had to fight for it.
“Winning on my last throw, after not really feeling like myself at the beginning of the competition was special and I feel like I really earned that Commonwealth medal.
“Then, standing on top of the podium and having my national anthem play is something that is so indescribable to anyone who hasn't experienced it and it's hard to contain your emotion.
“You're so proud for yourself, but you're also so proud to be bringing home this significant medal for your country.”
MITTON’S MAGICAL MEDAL-WINNING RUN
Since Birmingham 2022 Mitton has continued to add major medals to her ever-growing collection.
A maiden outdoor World Championships podium finish followed in 2023, with silver in Budapest, before she claimed a first Pan American Games gold, just over two months later.
The shot putter was far from finished. 2024 saw the Canadian attain two further landmark firsts, with a World Indoor gold in March and the overall Diamond League title in September.
Mitton defended her World Indoors crown earlier this year and now aims to add the outdoor gold, at Tokyo 2025, to her list of honours.
“Since Birmingham I feel like my career has kind of continued on this upward medal haul which has been really neat,” she says.
“This year, with the World Championships, especially coming off of an Olympic year, I am very hungry and eager to kind of make my mark in that competition.
“I don't have that global title in the outdoor World Championships and I think that that's something that can really set yourself apart from others in your sport,
“So, I’m hoping it’ll be a new experience with a new title, but I’m also using it as a stepping stone for next year with the Commonwealth Games being such a marquee event.”
SCOTTISH SUPPORT WILL BE ‘ELECTRIC’ COME GLASGOW 2026
Mitton has first-hand experience of Scottish support, having competed in the city during the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, but her most vivid memory came of travelling supporters who cheered Eilish McColgan to victory at Birmingham 2022.
“Obviously being on the podium in 2022 reminded me of the significance of the Commonwealths, but there was another moment earlier that night in the women’s 10,000m,” she recalls.
“The crowd was so electric; it was the loudest noise I’ve ever heard made at a stadium and they had to stop our competition as we couldn’t hear the officials!
“It was really cool to see people so engaged for their country and that’s a moment which has stayed with me ever since. I’m sure there’ll be more of that next year.”
Mitton sees returning to Glasgow, for the Commonwealth Games in 2026, as a “full circle” moment in her career and says the city will always hold a “very special place” in her heart.
“Glasgow 2024 was such a remarkable event in my journey, just like Birmingham 2022 with my first Commonwealth title, so to be back in Scotland and a city I feel is a lucky place for me, it feels like it’ll be inspiring for me.
“Glasgow 2026, I'm thinking it's going to be big,” says the Canadian, before pausing and then adding, with a smile; “actually it’ll be monumental!”
By Nick Hope, Glasgow 2026 content creator
