Back-to-Back Championships Take a Toll on Canada's Track and Field Athletes

Strategic Insights -

Canadian track and field athletes Sarah Mitton and her teammates had barely enough time to do laundry and repack between the world track and field championships and the Commonwealth Games, separated by eight time zones but only four days apart. Mitton, who captured gold in women's shot put at the Games in Birmingham, England, was surprised by the physical and emotional toll of competing in two big events back-to-back. "It's funny, I thought it was going to be easier than it was," said the 26-year-old from Brooklyn, N.S. "I was like 'Yeah, two championships, that's two opportunities.' But worlds takes more out of you than you expect, so I'm glad that was first."

Key Takeaways:

  • The world track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., were pushed back a year to make room for the delayed Tokyo Olympics, resulting in consecutive international events for many of Canada's top summer sport athletes.
  • Athlete Sarah Mitton, who captured gold in women's shot put at the Commonwealth Games, contracted COVID-19 for the second time in eight months and had to deal with the challenges of competing in two big events back-to-back.
  • Nicole Stafford pointed out that in a span of 365 days, she'd raced at the Olympics, both the world indoor and outdoor championships, and the Commonwealth Games, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining momentum despite the COVID hurdles.
  • Several big names, including swimmer Penny Oleksiak and sprinters Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown, passed on competing in Birmingham, citing the physical and emotional toll of competing in two big events back-to-back.
  • Para swimmer Katarina Roxon, who raced at the Commonwealth Games a few weeks after winning bronze at the world championships, said the integration of able-bodied and Para athletes at the Commonwealth Games made the season strains worth it.
  • Canadian athletes such as Josh Liendo, who rode his momentum from the world championships to another four medals at the Games, including gold in the 100-metre butterfly, and Para swimming star Aurélie Rivard, who climbed the medal podium several times between the Para world swimming championships and the Commonwealth Games, also shared their experiences.
  • The condensed few years will continue to affect athletes with the upcoming world track and field championships in Budapest, world aquatic championships in June, 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and 2024 Paris Olympics.

Statistics:

  • The world track and field championships were pushed back a year to make room for the delayed Tokyo Olympics.
  • 365 days was the span between the Olympics, both the world indoor and outdoor championships, and the Commonwealth Games for athlete Nicole Stafford.
  • 2 championships is the number of big events that athlete Sarah Mitton competed in back-to-back.
  • 8 time zones is the distance between the world track and field championships and the Commonwealth Games.
  • 4 days is the time difference between the two championships.
  • 26 is the age of athlete Sarah Mitton.
  • 12-13 is the number of summers in a row that Para swimming star Aurélie Rivard has competed in.

Sources:

  • Byline: LORI EWING; THE CANADIAN PRESS