Greg Stewart

Started: He began training in shot put in September 2017. (truomega.ca, 22 Jan 2020; cbc.ca, 22 Nov 2019) Reason: He was already a sportsperson, having competed in basketball and volleyball, but had a chance meeting with a wheelchair sports coach at a Christmas party in 2016. The coach encouraged him to attend a development camp for Para sports, where he began training in throwing. "After ending my volleyball and basketball careers, I found the longer I was away from sport, the more I missed it. I always had a spidey sense that I was meant to get back into sport. Then one day I ran into a wheelchair athletics coach and we got chatting. He had asked if I ever thought about athletics, specifically, shot put. Being from Kamloops and knowing it was the National Throw Center at one point, I said, 'Ya, I've thought about it'." (csipacific.ca, 01 Jan 2020; burnabynow.com, 25 Jun 2018) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (cfjctoday.com, 05 Jun 2024) Awards: He was named Field Event Athlete of the Year for 2021 by Athletics Canada. (radionl.com, 26 Apr 2022) He was awarded the International Excellence Award by the Kamloops Sports Council at the 2019 Kamloops Sports Awards in Canada. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Jul 2020; gowolfpack.ca, 29 Jul 2019) During his university basketball career he was named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011, and the 2011 Canadian Interuniversity Sport [CIS] Defensive Player of the Year. (athletics.inside.tru.ca, 04 Mar 2011; paralympic.ca, 2011) Additional Info: RETIREMENT AND RETURN In June 2022 he announced his retirement from competitive sport. In December 2023 he said he had reversed that decision and was setting his sights on the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "Retirement has been fun, and I've done many things I wasn't able to do when training, but I've felt a sense of discomfort, disconnection from a sport that I love so much. Plus, I want to compete and actually experience the Paralympic Games, not through the eyes of Covid." (paralympic.ca, 22 May 2024; Instagram profile, 04 Dec 2023, 13 Jun 2022; runningmagazine.ca, 20 Jun 2022) ADAPTING TO ATHLETICS He says that taking part in different sports like volleyball and basketball before he switched to Para athletics was significant in his personal development. "It's taught me how to become adaptive to your environment, how to work in a team, how to communicate effectively and efficiently, and has shown me that there is so much joy in everything we do. The transition [to athletics] at first was extremely challenging. What do you mean I need to book my own flight, find my own accommodations and register for the meet? All the years I was doing team sports, we had a manager, team assistants, coaches, administration, etc. We kind of just showed up, competed, then went home. Not only that, if I was having a poor day in competition, I could be subbed out, or have another player take the reins. The independence between the two [team sports and athletics] has been the major difference. If I have an off day or competition, it's all on me. There's no one to sub me out." (csipacific.ca, 01 Jan 2020) A BETTER LIFE He says that by re-settling in Kamloops, BC, Canada, and with the help of his brother, who works in self-improvement, he has found a "better life". Before moving back to Kamloops he competed in basketball and volleyball, moving from various cities and jobs in the process. "[I've found] a better life. I've done a lot of mental work, spent a lot of time on graphic integration. I do a lot with feelings and love and self. It's probably one of the biggest reasons I'm where I'm at. My connection to self, to love, it's changed my whole perspective in life." (burnabynow.com, 25 Jun 2018) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as a member of the board of directors at both Athletics Canada and AthletesCAN. (Mercedes Nicoll YouTube channel, 30 May 2024; LinkedIn profile, 12 Feb 2024; kamloopsbcnow.com, 30 Nov 2022)