Johnboy Smith

John Charles Smith (born 27 November 1989), known professionally as JohnBoy Smith, is a British parathlete and wheelchair racer and is from the Romany[1] community who competes in the T54 category sprint events.[2]

Johnboy Smith
Personal information
Birth nameJohn Charles Smith
NationalityBritish
Born (1989-11-27) 27 November 1989
Gravesend, England
Sport
CountryGreat Britain / England
SportWheelchair Racing
DisabilityParaplegia
Disability classT10/T11
Event(s)T54 Marathon, Wheelchair Sprints
Medal record
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BirminghamMen's T54 Marathon
Silver medal – second place2018 Gold CoastMen's T54 Marathon

Early life

Smith was born in Gravesend, Kent, England. At age 16, he was mistaken for a poacher and shot in the back leading to a spinal cord injury that left him with complete T10/T11 paraplegia.[3] He got motivated to pursue para-athletics and wheelchair racing after watching 2012 London Paralympics.[4]

Career

He won a silver medal in the T54 marathon of 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games held in Australia representing England.[4] He competed in 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan representing Great Britain in T54 marathon.[5][6] In 2022 Smith won a gold medal for England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the marathon (T54) event.[7]

See also

References
  1. Harle, Tom (6 September 2021). "Gravesend's JohnBoy Smith graps Paralympic debut with two hands in Tokyo". KentLive.news. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. "Johnboy Smith - Athletics". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. "London Marathon 2019: Johnboy Smith on why 'there is life after disability and tragedy'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. "Athletics SMITH Johnboy - Tokyo 2020 Paralympics". Tokyo 2020. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. "Paralympics: JohnBoy Smith sets personal best to finish 10th". KentOnline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  6. "32 athletes added to ParalympicsGB athletics team for Tokyo 2020". paralympics.org.uk. British Paralympic Association.
  7. "England's Smith wins marathon gold after Weir puncture". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2022.


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