Smith in Commonwealth comeback after miscarriages

Two-time Paralympian Ali Smith speaks about the challenges of returning to action at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after two miscarriages.

Two-time Paralympian sprinter Ali Smith says she is hoping for "magic" at the Commonwealth Games, as she returns to competition after two miscarriages. The 37-year-old Englishwoman has twice been a silver medallist at the Paralympics and finished fourth in the T37/38 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. But she spoke candidly to BBC Radio Surrey about the "pressure" she put on herself to come back to training and the impact on her body after the "stress" of her miscarriages.

Smith, who lives with multiple sclerosis, said: "It's been a difficult build-up, but it feels like a home Games and I'm going to have lots of people supporting me." Smith and her husband Mike Woodison had twice been expecting a baby over the past 12 months and the T38 class runner was pregnant when she last ran competitively. "It's scary to think I was [pregnant] and now I'm not, and it's really difficult to get back on the start line," she said.

Smith, who runs for Guildford and Godalming Athletics Club, believes more needs to be done to help sportswomen returning from such traumatic experiences. "There's lots of information for people returning from pregnancy, but there isn't anything for people returning from miscarriage," she added. "I really tried to come back as soon as possible, but I had physical differences.

"I'm trying to put my body through [more] stress and it's just been through the stress of miscarriages. It just needed a rest and I had no-one to guide or help me." 'Support network has got me through'

Smith's husband Mike has been by her side through her recovery, watching her train at Loughborough. "Psychologically, it's hard, if not harder at times [to return to competition]. She's shown that athletic resilience that she's made a career out of," he said.

"I'm so proud of the journey she's had in the last 12 months. Obviously we would like a different outcome, twice, but I could not be prouder." Woodison says he is a "loud" spectator, adding: "I'm normally quite close to the track and my voice nearly goes, cheering her on, but I'll probably do the same again."

After saying she nearly quit the sport after the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, this could be Smith's last major event. "I feel very differently towards it. I'm just going to enjoy it, have fun and not put pressure on myself," added Smith, who trains at the British Athletics base at Loughborough University.

"My family will be there to support me and I'm just having a bit of faith."