​Two-time Paralympian sprinter Ali Smith is set to chase a little bit of magic at the Commonwealth Games as she returns to competition after enduring two miscarriages. The 37-year-old English athlete, who has earned silver medals at the Paralympics on two occasions, also placed fourth in the T37/38 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In a candid interview with BBC Radio Surrey, Smith opened up about the heavy pressure she placed on herself to resume training and the toll the experience of miscarriage took on her body. Living with multiple sclerosis, she described a demanding lead-up to the Games but said it feels like a home event with substantial support from friends and fans.
Smith is scheduled to compete in the T38 100m and the sprint relay in Glasgow. She and her husband, Mike Woodison, had been anticipating a baby twice in the past year, and she was pregnant the last time she competed. “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 admitted. The athlete, who runs for Guildford and Godalming Athletics Club, believes more needs to be done to assist athletes 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,” Smith explained. “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 been the stress of miscarriages. It just needed a rest, and I had no one to guide or help me.”
Her husband, Mike Woodison, has stood by her throughout the recovery, closely watching her training sessions at Loughborough. “Psychologically, it’s hard, if not harder at times, to return to competition,” he noted. He praised his wife’s resilience, saying, “She’s shown the athletic resilience that she’s built a career on. I’m so proud of the journey she’s had in the last 12 months. Obviously we would have preferred a different outcome, twice, but I could not be prouder.” Woodison also described himself as a vocal, enthusiastic spectator, often found near the track, and he expects to bring the same level of support in Glasgow.
There was talk after Paris 2024 of Smith possibly stepping away from the sport, but she has a renewed mindset this time around. “I feel very differently about it now. I’m just going to enjoy it, have fun, and not put pressure on myself,” she said. She trains at the British Athletics base at Loughborough University, and she added that her family’s support remains a crucial source of strength. “My family will be there to support me, and I’m just having a bit of faith,” she affirmed.
Smith’s focus for Glasgow includes the T38 100m sprint and the 4x100m relay as she chases a performance that could feel like magic after such a tumultuous year. Her story underscores the need for broader resources and guidance for athletes returning to sport after pregnancy-related losses, and especially for those dealing with miscarriage, a topic that remains under-discussed in elite sport. As she takes to the track again, the Paralympian remains determined to balance competitive ambition with personal healing, hoping the Commonwealth Games will deliver a moment of triumph and healing amid the challenges she has faced.