Dave Smith, Paralympic champion shares his emotional story intertwining sporting pursuit and cancer survival. This interview is a deep one, it’s a full existential exploration of what is important, how and what we pursue and the focus on what really matters in our lives. I had the truly humbling, moving and inspirational experience of speaking to Dave Smith to tell his utterly remarkable story of sporting endeavour, fighting cancer and choosing to live life.

Show notes:

Living with purpose, the benefits and negatives of social media and the way in which the world can rapidly change

External and internal effects of spinal tumour

Reaching out for help

Regaining control better sleep, better nutrition, better exercise, reconnecting with passions and support of friends and mentors

Dave’s story form the beginning

Foot deformity from birth

Tumour symptoms from 17

Overtraining and pushing too hard

Bobsleigh challenge

Classifying for Paralympic sport

2009 joining a supported rowing programme

Rowing support and investigation saved Dave’s life and identified the tumour

2010 tumour diagnosis, life changed but sport was the coping mechanism

Re-diagnosis

Cancer diagnosis and the way in which you deal with it is very individual, use what works for you, Dave chose to use it as a battle and threw himself into sport.

The difference between the ‘have to’ and ‘want to’ goals

Who are you and what defines you, what is your purpose?

Links

Dave's website

https://davidsmithathlete.com/

Dave's blog

https://davidsmithathlete.com/vblog

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

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