Sask. shot putter makes Canadian Olympic team
Taryn Suttie earned a spot on Team Canada at the Olympic trials in Edmonton over the weekend
Canada's Olympic track and field team was announced on Monday and shot putter Taryn Suttie from Hanley, Sask. made the cut.
The former University of Saskatchewan track and field member said it was "very exciting and relieving" to find out she would be representing Canada at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this summer.
Suttie earned a spot on the team at the Canadian track and field national championship over the weekend in Edmonton along with Brianne Theisen-Eaton from Humboldt, Sask.
A 'natural' thrower
The 25-year-old Saskatchewan native said she was a natural when she threw for the first time in Grade 7 gym class. She went on to throw in high school and then in university before she started to train full-time.
It just takes a lot of focus and you got to keep those goals in mind.- Taryn Suttie
"It's been a long journey but of course a fun and rewarding one," she said.
Suttie competed at the Pan Am Games for the first time in Toronto last summer where she beat the Canadian record held by Julie Labonte.
Suttie went on to qualify for the Olympics in April when she hit the 17.88 mark, her new personal best. Her goal is to throw 18 metres in Rio, a distance she has already met in practice.
She said training for shot put involves a lot of technical work as well as power and speed work in the weight room. And although she doesn't lift the heaviest compared to her competitors, she said she tries to be very fast to make up for it.
Suttie said getting to the Olympics took dedication and sacrifice, not just from her but also from her family — a group that has been behind her the whole way. Unfortunately, they won't be joining her in Rio but will be cheering her on from home.
After spending a few days in Hanley with her family, Suttie will travel to Ohio to train with her coach for three weeks. She will then be off to Rio for the games from Aug. 12 to 21.