By Jeff Helsdon
Tillsonburg athlete Charlotte Bolton is on her way to Europe, getting ready for competition in the Paralympics in Paris from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
Bolton will be competing in shot put and discus.
The 21-year-old left Saturday with a first wave of athletes heading to Barcelona, Spain for a holding camp prior to competition starting.
“It’s to get used to the time zone, temperature and food so we’re prepared when we go into the village,” she said.
Bolton qualified for the Paralympic team based on a rankings list of competitions through the year. She won both events at the nationals.
“It’s not like in the States when you win in one event and get to go,” she explained. “You have to be consistently in the top of the world in your class.”
This isn’t Bolton’s first trip to the Paralympics, or competing on the international stage. She competed for Canada in the Tokyo 2020 games, placing sixth in both events. Her first medal was at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games when she won bronze. In last year’s World Para Athletics Championships, she was eighth in discus and ninth in shot put.
“We had a really good training year, probably one of the best training years in a while,” she said. “I’ve gone in and done the best I could. I feel I’m pretty ready.”
She has been practicing at York University in Toronto, five days a week except for a two-week break in September. Her coach is Rickard Parkinson, who also coached Sarah Mitton in shot put.
“It rained on her and she struggled in the rain,” Bolton said of Mitton. “She’s my training mate.”
In the stands in Paris will be her parents Scot Bolton and Bridget Fearon, and sister Madelyn.
Although not her first Olympic experience, Bolton is expecting this one will be different and she is excited with the prospect. The Tokyo games were during COVID and athletes weren’t allowed to interact with athletes from other countries.
“I’m looking forward to get to know people from other countries, and even more members of Team Canada,” she said.
Bolton said she is more prepared than the last Paralympics and will perform her best.
All competitors in discus and shot put get three throws, then the top eight advance to throw again.
It’s Bolton’s goal to make the top eight.
“I just want to go in and perform where I know I can,” she said.
Yorumlar