Smith on challenge of Commonwealth comeback after miscarriages

Smith in Commonwealth comeback after miscarriagesImage source, BBC SurreyImage caption, Ali Smith began competing in Para-athletics in 2017, after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosisByRobin GreyBBC Radio Sussex & Surrey sports editorPublished2 hours agoTwo-time Paralympian sprinter Ali Smith says she is hoping for "magic" at the Commonwealth Games, as she returns to competition after two miscarriages.The 37-year-old Englishwoman has twice been a silver medallist at the Paralympics and finished fourth in the T37/38 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.But she spoke candidly to BBC Radio Surrey about the "pressure" she put on herself to come back to training and the impact on her body after the "stress" of her miscarriages.Smith, who lives with multiple sclerosis, said: "It's been a difficult build-up, but it feels like a home Games and I'm going to have lots of people supporting me."Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ali Smith will compete in the T38 100m and sprint relay in GlasgowSmith and her husband Mike Woodison had twice been expecting a baby over the past 12 months and the T38 class runner was pregnant when she last ran competitively. "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 said.Smith, who runs for Guildford and Godalming Athletics Club, believes more needs to be done to help sportswomen 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," she added."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 just been through the stress of miscarriages. It just needed a rest and I had no-one to guide or help me."'Support network has got me...