As the Paralympics begin, all eyes are on Ali Smith, a GB medal-winning Paralympian who has repeatedly shown that true strength goes far beyond competition. Her journey to Paris 2024 has been anything but easy.
When we spoke with Ali early in 2024, she made clear that she refuses to give up her fight, even against the most formidable of opponents: her own body.
Ali's athletic achievements are remarkable. As a T38 category sprinter, she earned a silver medal in the Universal Relay at Tokyo 2020, helping her team set a new European record. In addition, Ali claimed silver and bronze in the T38 400m at two European Championships. But while these accomplishments are impressive, they only scratch the surface of her journey.
In 2023, Ali was in peak form, setting personal bests in every race. “I was in the shape of my life,” she recalls. But as she prepared for the World Championships, something was different. During what should have been a routine training session at a holding camp, Ali noticed that her balance was faltering.
“I was feeling so good but noticed my balance was not quite right,” she said. “When I was walking back, I couldn’t stay in the lane.” Initially brushing it off, Ali soon realised she was facing a serious multiple sclerosis (MS) flare up.
What followed was a struggle for anyone. On the bus to the championship’s venue, Ali became severely ill. Her symptoms rapidly worsened and she experienced a loss of coordination and an overwhelming sense of disorientation.
Despite her condition, Ali was driven by sheer determination and vowed to push through. She managed to compete in her 100m heat, but her body was fighting a battle that even her indomitable spirit had to give way to – at least temporarily. “I made it to the final, but either that night or the night after, I was hospitalised for three or four nights,” she recalls.
Yet even from her hospital bed, Ali’s thoughts were on the track. “If it was my choice, I would have tried [to race],” she admits, revealing a trait many athletes will empathise with. But her body had reached its limit, and it was clear that continuing would have put her “in serious danger.”
This was not Ali’s first encounter with a multiple sclerosis relapse. She had faced them before, including one that temporarily affected her vision. But her flare-up at the 2023 World Championships was different.
It left her battling not just physical symptoms, but a fear for her future too. “You don’t know if you are going to get better... I remember thinking: ‘What am I going to do if I’m stuck like this?’” she says.
Recovery was slow and filled with uncertainty. Ali could not run until November, and even then, she struggled to regain her confidence. But with the support of her teammates, she gradually rebuilt her strength. She was named the co-captain for the 2024 World Championships in Kobe alongside Zac Shaw; marking an emotional turning point.
“Being team captain gave me such a confidence boost. It made me check myself,” she says. This role reminded her of her strength and the importance of staying focused on what truly matters.
Ali now prepares to compete at Paris 2024, carrying lessons learned from past championships. “What matters is your happiness, your health, your enjoyment,” she says. “Try to relax and enjoy yourself.” These words reflect her approach to life and sport: a focus on the joy of the journey rather than the destination.
Ali’s story is not just about overcoming physical challenges, it is also about the power of perseverance, the strength found in community, and the courage to keep moving forward. As she steps onto the track at the Paralympics, she does so not just as an athlete, but as an inspiration for anyone facing their own battles.
