Queensland parashooter Natalie Smith sets sights on third Paralympics

Natalie Smith had two options; sit in her chair and stare at the walls or make the most of her new situation – she is now bound for her third Paralympics.

Natalie Smith had two options; sit in her chair and stare at the walls or make the most of her new situation – she chose the latter and is now bound for her third Paralympics on the shooting team.

Smith, 46, was an adrenaline chasing, sports loving, surgical nurse but an unfortunate accident while out exploring the Northern Territory 12 years ago changed that.

A misplaced step and awkward landing on a rock left her with spinal cord injuries, leaving her a paraplegic.

She left the hospital six months later in a wheelchair.

While her ability to walk was gone, the passion for an active lifestyle that once drove her to be a state level dressage and eventing competitor, jump from planes and go wakeboarding, led her to want more.

Together with her husband Stuart they moved from Melbourne to Meadowbrook in Queensland, the only state with the Walk On rehabilitation program.

Through this she became involved with the Sporting Wheelies.

“They have come and try days for all different sports so I could see what they were like in a chair,” Smith said.

“It was hard being in a chair having been able to walk before. Like when I tried basketball I just wanted to get up and bounce the ball and you can’t do that.”

Shooting was different.

Natalie Smith is a Paralympic shooter bound for Tokyo. Photo: Jono Searle.

“It was a sport that felt challenging, physically and mentally, which is what I was after while I was still figuring out my disability,” Smith said.

The new found passion and sport opened a number of doors for Smith, including travelling interstate and overseas for competitions.

It was a vital part of her recovery.

“I would never have got out of my comfort zone once I was in my chair for a while,” Smith said.

“Travelling overseas would not have felt comfortable to me or places outside of my home. I would have just been sitting in my chair staring at the walls watching television.”

The 46-year-old trained hard and two years later had won a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle standing R2 SH1 at the Paralympic Games in London.

Smith then embarked on one of her biggest challenges – having children.

Doctors had warned Smith and her husband that their chances were low due to her disability but she once again proved the doubters wrong – giving birth to Daniel in April 2014.

“He’s my little champion. He’s a real social butterfly,” Smith said.

Natalie Smith with her son Daniel. Picture: Supplied

She returned to the world circuit in 2015 and qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games where she finished just outside the medals in fifth position.

Since her accident Smith has lived life one day at a time – which put her in a good position when the postponement of the Tokyo Games was announced.

“We have spent this whole year questioning if it would go ahead. Even thinking that depending on what happens at the Olympics they might cancel the Paralympics at the last minute – everything this year has just been a big game of wait and see,” she said.

“Now it is half excitement, half anticipation because we really don’t know what to expect over there.”

It will be the first time Smith has competed internationally for two years and she can’t wait to show off her improvements.

And while there will not be an opening or closing ceremony, crowds or family to cheer her on Smith said she had no doubt it would still be a special experience.

“The Aussie mob is going to make it much more of an Australian games and focus on celebrating within the mob and making it a games just for us,” she said.

The Queenslander will compete in the R2 women’s 10m air rifle standing and the R3 mixed 10m air rifle prone events, starting on August 30.

Originally published as Queensland parashooter Natalie Smith sets sights on third Paralympics