Aled Sion Davies
| Name: | Aled Sion Davies |
|---|---|
| Sport: | Discus, shot-put and javelin |
| Club: | FDSW (Federation for Disabled Sports, Wales) |
| Age: | 17 |
| Home: | Bridgend |
Profile
After swimming for 6 years I saw an advert in the newspaper for a disabled swimming club – I decided to go and check it out and see what kind of place it was. I met a lot of different people there – each one with a different disability.
Not long afterwards, I met Nathan Stephens, who was already a discus, shotput and javelin champion – and someone who then, as now, proved an inspiration to me.
I realised quickly that I wouldn't shine as a swimmer. Nathan's dad saw this as well, and suggested that I try my hand at the sports that Nathan was doing. After only two weeks of training, the FDSW offered me a place on their academy training scheme.
I love being able to travel the world as an athlete. I love to meet new people who, despite their disabilities, are also competing at the top of their game.
Winning competitions is what keeps me motivated, and I love to be able to show to people that being disabled means that I am no different to anybody else.
Update
Over the past year I have continued to compete at a variety of competitions.
This year I got selected to represent team GB at an international competition in Switzerland. Despite the onslaught of the rain, I managed to compete well and won a silver medal in the discus competition.
I hope to continue learning from my experiences and continue to grow stronger. I hope that all the hard work continues to prove worthwhile as I reach for my goal - London 2012.
Ambition
I'd love to take disabled sports to the next level and prove that I can throw equally as well as the other athletes competing in the Olympic games.
I want more than anything to reach the 2012 London Games and to win a medal, and I want to do it in style, breaking the world record for throwing the shot-put and discus.
It takes a huge amount of effort and dedication and I have to sacrifice a lot of time with my family and friends. You have to give 100% to training and competing. You have to know that you want to be the best you possibly can be.
Reaching London 2012 would be the best thing in the world. It would be the biggest opportunity to show off my abilities to the whole world – and competing for GB would make my family, friends and the whole of Wales proud of me.