Ascending Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton proud to inspire with breakthrough campaign

An unforgettable shot-putting summer for Nova Scotia's Sarah Mitton culminated in a community-wide celebration this week near her hometown of Brooklyn, N.S.

Mitton, who captured Commonwealth Games gold earlier this month, then came in third just days later at a Diamond League event in Poland, added another title just days ago.

The 5-foot-6 shot putter won the NACAC Track and Field Championship title in Freeport, Grand Bahamas last week.

"I'm from Brooklyn but it was in Liverpool. It was celebrating all the Olympic potential we have in the county," Mitton told CBC Sports.

"It was really cool. Pretty much the entire town came out. I saw everyone I knew."

WATCH | Sarah Mitton wins Commonwealth Games gold in shot put:

A larger-than-life banner of Mitton now hangs in the Queens Place community centre in Liverpool. As humble as it gets, Mitton can barely wrap her head around how the community and province has recognized her.

"They're just so proud. Beaming with pride. And inspired. Some of the kids came up to me and talked to me about watching my throws," Mitton said.

"To be able to hear all their stories about them watching me was so great."

In so many ways this season couldn't be more different compared to last year. Mitton believes she was prepared for the Tokyo Games — as prepared as she could be for an Olympics in the midst of a pandemic.

Unfortunately she wasn't able to compete at the level she's capable of and was unable to advance to the finals. Mitton placed 28th on the biggest athletic stage.

But her coach, Richard Parkinson, says he knew Mitton was close to having everything click. He says the World Indoor championships were a turning point last year and Mitton hasn't looked back.

Ahead of nationals in Langley in