Aled Davies

Started: He took up athletics at age 14 in Cardiff, Wales. "I got the opportunity to come along to a Disability Sport Wales event in 2005 to try out athletics with a group of elite Paralympians. That's where I picked up a shot put and discus for the first time." (swanseabaynews.com, 15 Mar 2024; paralympic.org, 14 Apr 2018; Athlete, 07 Dec 2010) Reason: He was a keen rugby player and swimmer as a child, but he also felt that his impairment would stop him reaching his full potential. He was inspired to try athletics after watching the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. (paralympic.org, 14 Apr 2018; aleddavies-f42.co.uk, 11 Jan 2015; Athlete, 07 Dec 2010) Ambition: To defend his Paralympic gold medal at the 2024 Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 15 Aug 2022) Awards: He received the Senior Male Athlete of the Year award at the 2023 Welsh Athletics Annual Awards. (welshathletics.org, 28 Nov 2023) He was named Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [OBE] in the 2022 New Year Honours list. He was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in 2013. (bbc.com, 31 Dec 2021; walesonline.co.uk, 04 May 2013) In 2013 and 2019 he was the male recipient of the Bill McGowran Trophy, awarded for excellence in Para sport, at the Sports Journalists' Association [SJA] British Sports Awards. (sportsjournalists.co.uk, 30 Nov 2023) He received the Male Athlete of the Year award for 2016 at the Disability Sport Wales Awards. (disabilitysportwales.com, 01 Jan 2017) In May 2014 he carried the Queen's Baton atop of Mount Snowdon in Wales, as part of the relay ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He was also named captain of the Welsh squad for the Games. (insidethegames.biz, 31 May 2014; bbc.co.uk, 11 Jun 2014) Additional Info: DISCUS RETURN, REPRESENTING WALES He won gold in discus representing Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, despite shot put having been his focus for a number of years. "After 2014, I thought I would never have the opportunity to represent Wales again and it's something close to my heart. This is a special one. I have not done discus throwing for such a long time. When we heard about this opportunity it was always going to be a short turnaround, but we put in the work and we have shown what we can do." (bbc.com, 03 Aug 2022) FATHERHOOD He became a father for the first time in 2019. "[Fatherhood is] the only motivation you need. I don't do this for me now - I've achieved everything I've wanted to achieve. Golds at every tournament and world records, so if I can keep on dominating as long as possible and show that beautiful little girl how it is done, then that's great." (athleticsweekly.com, 10 Nov 2019) OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2021 he was one of the winners on British survival TV show 'Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins'. He has also worked for World Athletics as a sports commentator. (LinkedIn profile, 22 Jul 2023; mirror.co.uk, 15 Jul 2023; metro.co.uk, 03 Oct 2021)