A Fife-born athlete who dreamed of competing at the Rio Olympics has shared a heartwarming video of his first steps since undergoing surgery to remove a tumour.
Former Olympian and Paralympian David Smith, who was born in Dunfermline, was left paralysed down his left-hand side after undergoing emergency surgery to remove cancer from his spinal cord.
After nine months of operations, the issue was later determined to be the result of a blood clot.
This week the 37-year-old released a short clip showing him taking his cautious first steps.
The 10-second clip shows David nervously walking through a hospital with the help of a walking frame.
The gold medallist has now set his focus on a 400-mile bike ride across 17 of France’s highest mountains later in the year.
https://twitter.com/DSmithGB/status/710074421902483457
Posting the footage on Twitter, he wrote: “A step forward is a step in the right direction.
“Set a new intention everyday and follow your passion. #Gratitude.”
David was awarded an MBE in 2012 the same year he won his gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics. Following his medical issues he then turned his attention to cycling and took ninth place at the final Para-cycling Road World Cup of the 2015 season in South Africa.
His plans were turned upside down, however, after his fourth surgery left him having to learn to walk again.
Speaking of biking the peaks, David said: “This was the dream I needed that gives me hope and desire to get out of bed, on to a bike and back into life.”