PARALYMPIAN ALI SMITH RETURNS TO COMPETITION AFTER MISCARRIAGES

Ali Smith, a two-time Paralympic silver medallist, is preparing to compete at the Commonwealth Games following two miscarriages in the past 12 months. The 37-year-old sprinter from England, who competes in the T37/38 100 metres category, finished fourth in the same event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Smith told BBC Radio Surrey that she is hoping for "magic" at the Games, which she described as a home event with significant local support.

Smith lives with multiple sclerosis and was pregnant when she last competed. She spoke about the physical and psychological difficulty of returning to training after her miscarriages, stating that she experienced bodily changes that required recovery time. Smith, who runs for Guildford and Godalming Athletics Club, said that limited guidance exists for female athletes returning from miscarriage, though support is available for those returning from pregnancy. She expressed frustration at the lack of structured help during her recovery process, noting that she felt pressure to resume training quickly despite her body needing rest.

Smith's husband Mike Woodison has supported her through the recovery process and attends her training sessions at Loughborough. Woodison described the return to competition as psychologically challenging and said he is proud of Smith's "athletic resilience" over the past year. Smith previously indicated she considered retiring from sport after the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, making the Commonwealth Games potentially her final major competition.