Aled Siôn Davies 3 Lle

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-We've come to Whitesands,

-St Davids...

-..as we used to come here almost

-every weekend when I was growing up.

-Dad would drive down

-with the caravan in the morning.

-My mum would pick my brother and me

-up from school.

-We'd park and then I'd just

-run down and jump into the sea.

-I loved the water.

-I have incredible memories

-of this beach.

-My brother and I

-went to Welsh-medium schools.

-We started in Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr

-in Bridgend...

-..and then we went to Llanhari.

-There are seven years between us.

-When I started in Year 7,

-he was in Upper Sixth.

-We were always

-competing against each other...

-..especially

-when swimming in the sea.

-We're best friends.

-We talk to each other

-about anything.

-He always gives me great support.

-Mam and Dad just wanted me

-to have every opportunity.

-We've been through a lot together...

-..especially with my disability -

-I've had many operations.

-Mam dedicated her life

-to bringing me up.

-Dad worked so hard

-to make sure we had everything.

-We're so close

-and I love them dearly.

-I'm so grateful that

-they've given me an amazing life.

-Just thinking of the times

-you spent...

-..with the boys from the surf

-lifesaving club...

-..jumping off the rocks.

-I had my heart in my mouth.

-You had to go with them no matter

-how long it took you to get there.

-You on the back of my bike.

-You had a plaster from your toe

-to here.

-You sat at the back and the bike

-would be going up at the front...

-..because of the weight

-of the plaster!

-When I was born,

-I had to have an operation...

-..because my leg

-was bent around my neck.

-They had to break my leg

-in 17 places...

-..make it into the shape of a leg

-and put it in a cast.

-I didn't have the bone

-and had a club foot...

-..so bone was taken from my hip

-to create the lower part of my leg.

-Because it didn't grow...

-..I had a frame with 36 pins

-through the leg.

-Every day, a spanner would be used

-to turn them...

-..so it would extend the leg

-a little every day.

-I'm lucky now

-that I received that treatment.

-I have two legs.

-I don't know any different

-so I just get on with my life.

-I remember being here

-in my wheelchair.

-Nothing used to stop us.

-We took you everywhere.

-Why let a little thing like that

-get in the way?

-If we couldn't get you in the bike

-or wheelchair, we'd carry you.

-Wouldn't be able to carry you now!

-Wouldn't be able to carry you now!

-

-No.

-When I was growing up,

-I didn't have any worries.

-Mam and Dad raised me

-the same way as my brother.

-Despite my disability,

-they didn't treat me any different.

-I'm so jealous

-of the people out there surfing.

-So jealous.

-I didn't think it affected me

-until I was growing up.

-Then I understood that my disability

-affected me in some ways.

-That's why

-I loved going into the sea.

-When I was in the sea,

-I was the same as everyone else.

-I could swim at the same speed.

-When I was growing up, I competed

-in lifesaving with my brother.

-Most races would start on the beach.

-You run into the sea,

-swim out to a buoy in the sea...

-..go around it, swim back

-and run back up the beach.

-I'd run into the sea,

-everyone would get in front of me...

-..I'd catch them up in the sea,

-sometimes I'd go in the lead...

-..and when I'd return to the beach,

-everyone would beat me.

-When you were swimming, 'cos you

-were in the water, you were winning.

-Then, up until 15...

-..the decision had to be made then

-which way you wanted to go.

-At the end of the day, with you

-and Rhys, we've always said...

-.."Do whatever you want to do and do

-it to the best of your ability."

-Isn't it?

-You've had a go.

-If you fail, you fail, if you do

-well, you do well. You've done well.

-It was in 2005 that I heard

-that London had won the bid...

-..to host the Olympics

-and Paralympics.

-That became my aim...

-..because I knew they'd be the only

-home games during my career.

-So I had to make sure I was going to

-be there competing in something...

-..though I didn't know at the time

-in which sport.

-I was swimming at the time...

-..but I knew I wasn't good enough

-to go to the Paralympics.

-I went for an open day

-for a variety of sports.

-I tried every sport under the sun.

-Then I discovered the throws.

-I found

-I was good at throwing things.

-After training for about a year...

-..I was picked to go to the Junior

-World Championships in Ireland...

-..in 2006.

-I won the discus

-and came third in the shot put.

-In 2010, I got another chance to go

-to the Junior World Championships.

-I won two gold medals and broke the

-junior world record in both events.

-Because of that, the British team

-saw something in me.

-They took a team of 40...

-..to the World Championships

-in New Zealand in 2011.

-I hadn't reached

-the required criteria to go...

-..but they took me as the 40th

-member of the team, as a wildcard.

-Olympic Stadium, London

-In New Zealand in 2011, I remember

-the day when I went to compete.

-No-one knew who I was.

-I was small, 18 or 19 years old.

-I wanted to show everyone

-that I was the future.

-When I went out there,

-I performed out of my skin.

-I came back with a bronze.

-That changed my mindset completely.

-Growing up,

-my dream was to reach London.

-After that, it changed.

-I knew I could reach London

-but could I win a medal as well?

-You warmed up

-then you went under a tunnel.

-It was like Gladiator

-because I walked beneath everyone.

-They chanted and I could hear

-their feet stamping on the ground.

-The stadium was so noisy.

-I've never heard such a noise.

-I walked out, I was introduced.

-I just stood and waved and thought,

-"What is going on?"

-Crazy.

-Crazy.

-I didn't know

-that this was possible...

-..especially in disability sport.

-It's sad because

-I don't know if it'll be repeated.

-It brings

-so many different emotions.

-The competition itself

-was like a pantomime.

-I went round by round

-against my rival from Iran.

-He did a throw that was...

-It was his best ever throw

-and he did it in the first round.

-It was incredible.

-He screamed and pointed at me.

-I thought, "Right, OK.

-"Yes. I can do this. Right."

-I love that kind of competition...

-..especially when someone thinks

-they can beat me.

-That's what brings out

-the best in me.

-I went in and opened with a throw

-that went further than his...

-..by about 20cm.

-I did the same back -

-screamed and pointed at him.

-The competition was only

-between me and the Iranian really.

-We were three or four metres

-further than the rest.

-In every round,

-the Iranian guy crept up...

-..about 5cm at a time.

-He threw five lifetime bests.

-That never happens in throws.

-Never happens.

-It was the competition of his life.

-It was incredible to see.

-I produced poor throw

-after poor throw.

-I was trying too hard.

-For about half an hour,

-the competition became a blur.

-I remember sitting down and

-thinking, "This is the final round."

-Then it was up to the Iranian.

-He produced a huge throw.

-He screamed.

-When the discus landed,

-you could hear a pin drop.

-I didn't see it.

-I couldn't look.

-I looked at the coach.

-His eyes were wide open.

-Everyone just stood up as one

-screaming.

-They threw things.

-That's when I saw...

-..he'd fallen 5cm short.

-I'd won the gold.

-I think about that moment every day.

-I don't think it'll ever sink in.

-Everyone was shouting my name.

-It was like watching a film.

-I was so happy, but I was sad too...

-..because it was all over.

-You work so hard for a competition

-that lasts 45 minutes.

-I saw it as a chance to show

-everyone that I'm an athlete.

-A discus thrower.

-Forget about the disability,

-I'm someone who worked hard...

-..to make sure I gave my best

-performance on the best stage ever.

-I think a lot has changed

-because of London.

-London catapulted parasport

-forward by about 20 years.

-There were little things...

-..like when I was at the Games,

-going around the Park...

-..I could see little kids wearing

-shorts showing their disability.

-I hadn't worn a pair of shorts

-until I was 15.

-It changed what people thought

-about disability.

-The Games changed me a lot.

-I got the opportunity

-to go full-time.

-I got a lot of sponsorship.

-I've won every title since then.

-Now I just want to show everyone

-that, disability or not...

-..you can be an athlete

-competing at the highest level.

-I didn't know

-there was a slide here.

-I've heard

-it's the biggest in the world.

-I love a challenge

-so I'm going to take it on.

-Wow! This is incredible!

-So fast!

-I love returning to the Park,

-especially the Stadium...

-..because I have so many memories.

-It's so nice to come back

-and remember what happened.

-This is where my life changed.

-It'll always be close to my heart.

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-I love music,

-especially in the morning.

-It gets me ready for the day.

-After listening to music,

-I can't wait to go to training.

-I've been mixing music

-for about four years.

-I wanted a good music system...

-..because I wanted to show people

-what I can do.

-It's my hobby on the side.

-I can come home

-and just jump on the decks.

-The National Indoor Centre

-in Cardiff...

-..is one of

-my most important places.

-It started here

-and I think it'll end here too.

-Cyncoed Campus

-Here we are in the

-National Indoor Athletics Centre.

-I've been training here

-for about ten years.

-I love this place.

-There are so many different athletes

-training for so many sports.

-I'm going to show you where I train

-and lift weights.

-When we train,

-we train in eight-week cycles.

-In winter, we focus on strength,

-lifting lots of weights.

-When we come to compete,

-we drop the weight...

-..and focus on power and speed...

-..and technique in the circle.

-I've had so many injuries

-over the years...

-..because I push my body to places

-I didn't think I could go.

-I have to do so many things to make

-sure I stay at the right weight.

-The most important aspect

-is the psychological work.

-I believe I'm the best in the world.

-Every time I go into a competition,

-I don't believe anyone can beat me.

-I know I've worked harder

-than the other competitors.

-If I get an injury, it does

-knock my confidence a little.

-After London, I showed everyone

-I'm not a one-trick pony.

-I went to the World Championships

-and threw two world records...

-..and won two gold medals.

-After that,

-it became easier for me to relax...

-..and think that I was the best in

-the world and no-one could beat me.

-I paid for that attitude...

-..at the Commonwealth Games.

-Looking back, it makes me sad.

-But I make sure that I remember it.

-I don't get many opportunities

-to compete for Wales.

-Being a Welshman,

-it's really close to my heart.

-Leading the team up in Glasgow...

-..I wanted to show everyone

-how to do it.

-I wanted to beat everyone

-and come back with the gold.

-I remember going into the circle

-in the first round.

-I was happy with my throw.

-I said to myself, "Yes."

-When it landed, I saw the distance

-and thought, "Oh, no."

-I knew at that moment, it was

-the best I could do on the day.

-It wasn't enough for the gold medal.

-I lost,

-but I also lost to an Englishman.

-That hurt.

-I remember it every day.

-It makes me get up in the morning

-and work really hard...

-..because I never want to feel

-like that again.

-I hate losing.

-I have another personality

-that I tap into when I compete...

-..a really, really aggressive man.

-When I go out there,

-I want to beat everyone.

-I want to really beat everyone.

-It's not a nice man but I have

-to be like that to be the best.

-When I was growing up,

-I loved tattoos.

-I wanted a reason to get one myself.

-After going to London,

-I wanted to get the rings.

-I wanted to design something.

-A personal reminder

-that showed people what I do.

-So I got the torch

-from the first London Games...

-..then the first five sports to

-feature at the Olympics...

-..on commemorative coins

-bought by competitors.

-Then, on my elbow is Zeus,

-the god of the Olympiad.

-That signifies I'm a champion.

-On the bottom is a wreath...

-..which the winners all received.

-It's a story

-which I love explaining to people.

-There aren't many people

-who can have what I have...

-..because they haven't done

-what I've done.

-I'm a Paralympic athlete.

-I have to wear

-a belt and a prosthesis...

-..to give my leg

-the required support.

-I designed what I wanted.

-I took it to the company

-and they made what I wanted.

-I'm wearing a belt

-that's been made at 60C.

-That means I can put power into

-the belt and get power out too.

-I compete against people

-with blades.

-I think

-they have an advantage over me.

-They can create their desired leg...

-..where I've got to work

-with what I have.

-Unfortunately,

-it'll never compare with a blade.

-But with the new belt...

-..and the fact we're looking

-to improve every day...

-..I'm confident about what I can do.

-I'm really excited about

-what I might throw in the summer.

-I'm competing against

-able-bodied people at the moment.

-I'm number two in Wales

-and I'm in the top eight in Britain.

-In the next four or five years...

-..I want to push myself

-to see how far I can go.

-I hope I can start beating

-able-bodied athletes in Britain...

-..and start competing

-on the biggest stage...

-..with the best able-bodied athletes

-in the world.

-I've had an incredible career.

-A little boy with a dream

-of winning a gold medal.

-I've won two -

-one from London and one from Rio.

-There's a gold postbox in my honour

-too.

-It's amazing.

-But the journey isn't over.

-There's a lot of hard work to do

-and a lot more medals to be won.

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