Former Olympic athlete takes a swing at Highland games heavy athletic events

When SultanaFrizelldidn't qualify for the IAAFworld championshipsin London, the track and field athlete didn't want to sit around and pout about it.

Instead, the two-timeOlympian started practising with hammers in the backyard of her family's farm in Perth, Ont., in preparation for the38thannualNew Brunswick Highland Games Festival in Fredericton this weekend.

Frizell will take part in the women's heavy athletic events.

Although she's used to competing in the hammer throw at track meets, she's had to spend sometime learning about the Scottish events, with help fromYouTube.

"I basicallygo out there with the cows and throw things with them," said the 32-year-old, holder of the hammer throw record at the Commonwealth Games.

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Sunday's competition includes the open stone throw,hammer toss andcabertoss.

"Why sit at home when you can wear a skirt and throw?" Frizellsaid in an interview on her way to New Brunswick from Perth, whichis between Ottawa and Toronto.

Frizell hasinvested years intrack and field and competed in both the London and Beijing Olympics in 2012 and 2008.

In 2014, she broke theCanadian record with a throw of 75.73 metres. That year she alsowon her second straight gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

The Ontario native was also a Canadian champion in 2007, 2008 and 2010 andwon a silver medal at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara in Mexico.

But the athlete described 2017as a bad throwing year and wanted to try something new.

"I love the hammer, but the hammer doesn't love me, so basically the door shut," said Frizell, who started competing when she was three.

We're notwaiting in the shallow end, we're just jumping in.-SultanaFrizell

She spent some time Googlingthe Highland games events closest to her hometown and stumbled upon the one inFredericton.

She calledorganizers to see if she could land a spot in the heavy athletic events.

"Fredericton is this wonderful, happy place that basically said, 'HeySultana, you totally can come play with us and we will show you how to throw these things,'" said Frizell, who competed at one of her first track events in Fredericton when she was a kid.

For her first New Brunswick Highland Games, she also ordered a Fraser kilt online.

Olympics to Highland Games

Frizellhas always had an interest in competing in Highland games but has never had the time.

"I used to throw shot put, so Ishouldbe OK with throwing a stone around," she said.

"It's basically going to come down to, 'am I going to stab myself with a pitch fork or amI going to box myself with a big tree?"

Ireally want to make the world Highland Games championships.- SultanaFrizell

She said many athletes who retire from track and field will turn to heavy athletic sports with the Highland games.

"I'm very new to this," she said. "We're notwading in the shallow end, we're just jumping in."

In August, she will also participate inthe Glasgow Highland Games and the ButeHighlands Games in Scotland.

And she'salreadysetting new goals for herself.

"I really want to make the world Highland games championships," she said.

What to expect at games

The Fredericton festival runs from July 28 to July 30 on the lawns of Government House at51 Woodstock Rd., which organizers say resembles an old Scottish castle.

"Everybody thinks that because it's the Highland games and there's bagpipes and there's haggis, you have to be Scottish there's a lot more to it than that," saidChris Gallant,co-chair of the New Brunswick Highland Games committee.

The weekend eventincludes bagpiping, highlanddancing and a variety of workshops such as awhisky-tasting workshop and an introduction to Scottish Gaelic.

Ever tried haggis?

Another highlight will be the workshop onhaggis, a Scottish dish made of sheep's liver, heart and lungs that's mixed in the animal's stomach. Peoplecanlearn about the history of the traditional dish, how to make, and old tales surrounding it.

"It's more like a meat loaf with a slight hint of lamb, a slight hint of liver," said Barbara MacKinnon, haggis workshop presenter.

The workshop will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday and everyone is welcome.

"Once you taste it, that usually wins people over," MacKinnon said.

The games will open Friday at 7:30 p.m., honouring the90th anniversary of the Fredericton Society ofSaint AndrewPipe Band.

The event is expected to attract thousands of people, including competitors and performers from across Canada, the United States and Scotland.

"There's so much to see and do," Gallant said. "Anybody can be Scottish for the weekend."