Athletics
Date of Birth | 27 November 1989 |
Age | 34 |
Place of Birth | Gravesend |
Commonwealth Appearances |
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Social |
Johnboy Smith's gold medal was one of the most talked about moments of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The wheelchair racer stormed across the finish line to clinch victory in the men's T54 marathon to claim his first international gold, after teammate David Weir suffered a puncture and was forced leave the race.
A tragic case of mistaken identity left Smith paralysed with a spinal injury when he was shot by a farmer who thought the then 16-year-old was a poacher.
But the boxing-mad teenager threw himself into para sport after being inspired by the London 2012 Paralympics, initially excelling at seated throwing before transitioning to the track and becoming friends and training partners with six-time Paralympic champion David Weir.
Smith scooped silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the T54 Marathon on the Gold Coast before upgrading to the top spot four years later.