Chicago Scots Heavy Athletics will launch new features at the 2026 Scottish Festival & Highland Games to enhance the fan experience thanks to the generosity of our athletic sponsors the Georgeson family & Scot Forge. From player cards, to autograph sessions, and new equipment, Heavy Athletics will have a new look to boost excitement at this year’s Games.
The 2026 roster includes six men and six women with three new pro athletes competing at our Games for first time. Scot Forge has engineered and manufactured new equipment for both men and women. The Georgeson War Hammer, a ‘farmer’s walk’ contest debuted last year featured two 265lbs hammers. Eric Spence won the competition carrying the hammers a record 170 feet 3 inches. He’s back to defend his title and this year the women will have new 155lbs hammers from Scot Forge too.
Heavy Athletics, a tribute to the strength and culture of Scottish clans, are a cornerstone of every Highland Games. Today, Heavy Athletes compete in 8 contests to vie for top honors. Special thanks to Jason Clevenger, Chair, Chicago Scots Heavy Athletics for recruiting the best pro athletes for our games and for his pioneering efforts to integrate more women into the games. If you’ve been to our games before you will recognize Larry Satchwell’s voice. Hands down he is the best play-by-play commentator in the country for heavy athletics and it’s an honor to welcome him back to Chicago.
Come meet the strong men and women competing at our Games. They will be sharing player cards and signing autographs whenever they are not on the field.
Purchase Player Card Packs at the Chicago Scots Tent and Heavy Athletics Tent.
The 2026 Players Roster
6 Women and 6 Men
*New Players
Emily Adams
World Masters Champion
Schneider, IN
Sarah Bliven
Masters Sheaf Record Holder
Blanchard MI
Jessica Bridenthal
Ranked Top U.S. & Canada Heavy Athlete
Akron, OH
Mandi Hart
Masters Women’s Champion ’24 & ‘25
Eaton, OH
Sara Sparks*
Women’s Worlds Championship Competitor
Spencer, IN
Katie Crowley
Lightweight World Champion
West Salem, WI
Jesse Bethke*
Heavy Hammer Champion
Bentonville, AR
Garrett Blatnik*
Ranked #8 Pro World Champion
Memphis, TN
Jared Conklin
All American Collegiate Weight Throw
Albion, MI
Luke Crowley
5x Winner WI Hibernian Championship
La Crosse, WI
Cameron Newkirk
Former Amateur World Champion
Midland, MI
Eric Spence
2x Champion Arnold Highland Games
Bay City, MI
Contests
16lbs. Clachneart Stone
56 lbs. Throw for Distance
28 lbs. Throw for Distance
22 lbs. Hammer
Caber Toss
20 lbs. Sheaf Toss
56 lbs. Throw for Height
The Georgeson War Hammer
Sponsored By
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.