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South African shot-put champion Aiden Smith is aiming to reach the final at his maiden World Senior Athletics Championships, taking place from Saturday until 21 September in Tokyo.
The national champion and World University Games gold medallist goes into the competition full of confidence.
Smith says surpassing his personal best of 20.47m would be a big achievement, and making the final would be the perfect bonus.
For the 22-year-old, the priority is to enjoy the experience, test himself against the world’s best, and measure his progress at the highest level.
Smith stunned seasoned campaigner and multiple-time South African champion Kyle Blignaut to win the national title in Potchefstroom earlier this year, earning him the bragging rights of being called national champion.
He regards beating Blignaut as one of his biggest milestones of the season and now has his eyes set on pushing towards the 23m mark, a distance he believes will make him South Africa’s leading thrower.
A University of Pretoria student, Smith booked his ticket to Tokyo through the world rankings system, finishing inside the top 32.
His path to the global stage has been an exciting one, including appearances at the World University Games, Botswana Golden League, and a European tour where he gained valuable international exposure.
Now, he looks forward to testing himself against the best shot putters in the world — and perhaps even grabbing a selfie with them.
Smith admits that winning gold at the World University Games in Germany took him by surprise.
His victory came after producing a personal best throw, and he credits a touch of luck for his breakthrough performance.
The triumph remains one of his proudest moments as he prepares for his next challenge on the world stage.
"God was on my side that day, and I couldn't have done it without him."
