Charlotte Bolton, an incoming York University student-athlete, will join the Lions this September after competing with Team Canada's Paralympic track and field team in the F41 shot put and discus events. The Paralympics begin on Aug. 23.
Bolton, 18, is currently a key member of the Canadian squad who qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games after posting impressive qualifying results this past summer at events in Montreal. She holds three Canadian records in the F41 throwing events – shot put (9.05 metres), javelin (20.33 metres) and discus (26.02 metres).
Student-athlete Charlotte Bolton
"To watch Charlotte work her way onto the [Canadian Paralympic] team was amazing," said Lions track and field head coach Raymond Rudder. "She kept getting better as we approached the selection deadline, and was determined to make the team. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this young, hard-working athlete."
Originally, Bolton's goal was to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but the one-year postponement of the Tokyo games allowed her to hone her skillset for an extra year, which proved to be the difference. In just one calendar year, her personal best in the shot put increased by over two full metres – from 7.04 metres to the aforementioned Canadian record of 9.05 metres.
Bolton and her teammates will all be medal threats once the games get underway – all 16 of the Canadian Paralympic athletes are ranked at least top eight in the world for their respective events.
Bolton is one of 55 up-and-coming Canadian athletes to receive a 2021 Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence Program grant selected by Petro-Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Coaching Association of Canada.
Bolton's connection to York doesn't start when she begins her journey as a Lion this fall – Richard Parkinson, a former York track and field coaching staff member, will be the throws coach overseeing Bolton during the Paralympics.