"DETERMINED TO SUCCEED"

Three time Sydney Paralympic Gold Medallist Greg Smith has achieved many accolades over his 11 year professional career. Yet Greg says "I don't compete for medals, I do it because I love it".

Greg sees himself as "Incomplete Quad" because he still has good functions in his upper body but has poor use of his hands. He became an "Incomplete Quad" after being in a motor vehicle accident. When Greg had his accident he felt like "giving up" and asked himself "why me", but with of support of his family, friends and his own true beliefs he was able get back up from the knockdown and move on.

Greg's classed as a T2 Quadriplegic. "Classifications are determined by the level of function a person is left with from their injury" says Greg. An injury to the neck automatically puts you in the Quad class and the same with an injury to the back, which puts you in the Para class. The lower the injury is down the spiral cord the more ability and functions you will have.

Wheelchair Racing Classifications.
T1 is a high level Quadriplegic;
T2 is low level Quadriplegic;
T3 is a high level paraplegic and;
T4 is a low level paraplegic.

"The word 'level' is referring to where the damage to the spine cord occurred."

Racing in his wheelchair Greg is able to reach speeds of around 25 km/h, on flat ground.

March 2000, just 7 months prior to the Paralympics Greg had a fall in the U.S.A. in which he shattered the femur in his leg. "I had surgery to have a rod inserted in the bone and I was off training for 7 weeks" said Greg. July 2000 he had his first competition back and set new World Records for the 800m and the 1500. Greg accredited these results to him truly believing in his capabilities and also his ability to continually focus on the goals he had set for the year. This was one of main highlights that gave Greg the strength to go on.

"I don't think I have had a low light really. Sure I have had some bad competitions but they only helped me move on and keep me determined to
succeed."

Greg was very relieved when he won his first gold medal. It was in the 800m which had never been one of his best events in the past. "I believed I could win it but I thought it would be more difficult of the three" says Greg.

Greg trains 6 days a week and still has enough time for work, travel and a social life enjoying, Hand Cycling, Scuba Driving, Water Skiing and just hanging out with friends.

Michael Lucken
Youth@bility Editor