JohnBoy racing in Tokyo

JohnBoy Smith

Athlete Information

  • Region

    Sevenoaks

  • Date of Birth

    27/11/1989

  • Classification

    T54 marathon

Athlete main content

Smith was just 16 when he was shot which resulted in paralysis. As well as the paralysis, Smith had a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and a perforated bowel and was in intensive care for a week.

Smith began by doing some wheelchair body building and powerlifting. Watching the London Paralympics in 2012 made him crave the bigger stage.

He moved to athletics and started to compete in the seated throw events in his category. But at an event in Berlin in 2014, he saw wheelchair racing up close and knew then that he wanted a piece of the action.

Smith made a big impact on his international debut, winning silver when representing England in the T54 marathon at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Smith came second in the 2017 New York marathon, and he finished a respectable 11th in the London marathon 2019.

He made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, finishing 10th in the T54 Marathon.

Results

**Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games **

  • T54 marathon: 10th

**2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia **

  • T54 Marathon: Silver

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