ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: U.S.
Paralympic Curler Wes Smith
by Kelli
McFarland
Family man and sports advocate for people with disabilities, 2003 National Wheelchair Curling Champion Wes Smith (Glenburn, Maine) amazes us once again as he prepares for the 2006 U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Team Selection Event Dec. 8-11 in Whitesboro, N.Y.
Married 42 years, Smith is a father to three sons and grandfather to eight with another grandchild on the way. Smith leads a life devoted to family, sports and improving the lives of those with physical disabilities.
From personal experience, Smith understands the challenges physically-disabled individuals face every day. In 1978, Smith suffered from the development of a spinal cord tumor that claimed the use of his left leg. The tumor resurfaced 17 years later and spread to his right leg leaving what he calls a "matched set" of limbs.
Smith's sense of humor and positive attitude is enough to inspire anyone fortunate enough to meet him.
"I definitely want to get more people involved in sports-it affects people with disabilities in many different ways," said Smith. "First, it's physical, which is good exercise. It also gets them out and involved socially and improves their self-esteem. There are many good things that can come out of recreation."
After years of playing countless sports and serving as the recreation director at the athletic complex named in his honor, Smith discovered curling in 2001 and joined the Belfast Curling Club.
"The Belfast Curling Club was fantastic," Smith said. "They took us right in under their wing and put each one of us on a separate team. It gave us time to learn more about the sport as well as meet more people at the club."
This future world team member couldn't wait to hone his curling skills. In just a year, Smith found himself making history as a competitor in 2002 at the first-ever World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Switzerland.
"I thought, ?wow, that's right down our alley,'" remembers Smith. "So I went around dangling a carrot asking the other players ?you want to go to Switzerland?' It was a fantastic experience."
Team USA took to the ice as the underdogs and surprised the world by placing fifth in the final standings at the World Championships. Wheelchair curling is a relatively new sport in the United States and will make its debut at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.
Smith's defining moment was in 2003 when he dished out everything he had worked for at the National Wheelchair Curling Championships. In a close competition, Smith and his teammates battled out of a three-way tie to claim the championship and the gold medal.
"I don't think it's any one thing," said Smith regarding the team's success. "I think it's a combination of many things. It's a very social sport-the people have been just fantastic. There's a lot of strategy-it's like playing chess on ice. It's also a very challenging sport-it's just as mental as it is physical."
Away from the ice and outside of competition, Smith serves as an independent living specialist at Alpha One-an organization "working to transform communities by promoting the abilities of all citizens." Smith also coordinates and oversees a monthly Youth in Motion recreation program designed for children in wheelchairs. The initiative provides additional wheelchairs to encourage their able-bodied parents and friends to participate at the same level.
"I enjoy working," Smith said. "I've never had a job that I didn't enjoy. I'm of retirement age, but I don't plan to stop working as long as I'm enjoying it. The job that I have here is a very nice fit. It's not just work-it's fun at the same time."
For Smith, good deeds don't just come around during holidays or a after a natural disaster. Smith gives his daily dose of community outreach and in return, enjoys the intrinsic value it leaves behind.
"Alpha One deserves a lot of the credit for actually starting the [curling] team from a grant and getting people involved," said Smith. "It was something that just wasn't going in the United States-especially competitively."
In curling, Smith plays the role of the skip-he is what some would compare to the quarterback of a football team. The skip is the strategist that guides the team and calls the shots.
When he's not improving lives, this "skip" enjoys wheelchair basketball, tennis, sled hockey, kayaking and bowling. Smith also takes pleasure in playing chess, solving logic puzzles and doing yard work-and a potential Paralympic debut is just around the corner.
For more information, contact Kelli McFarland at kelli.mcfarland@usoc.org or (719) 866-2221 or Karen Saladyga at karen.saladyga@usoc.org or (719) 866-3503. This release is also available on the USOC's public website (www.usolympicteam.com) and media-specific website (www.usocpressbox.org).