Renewed Passion for Discus Ahead of Commonwealth Games
Wales' Aled Sion Davies has experienced a resurgence in his discus throwing career as he prepares for what could be his final Commonwealth Games representing Wales.
The 35-year-old dual-sport athlete will compete in the F42-44/F61-64 discus throw at this summer's Games in Glasgow, returning to the event he now regards more as a hobby.
Davies, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist, has focused primarily on shot put since his gold medal win in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, rarely training with the discus.
However, following surgery to address osteitis pubis—a condition causing inflammation around the groin—and a subsequent move to Australia, his enthusiasm for discus has been reignited.
"That has changed everything for me, it gave me that belief again," Davies told .
"The new group is a breath of fresh air and has given me something to chase again.
"Having that operation, changing my coach, making my body as efficient as possible, has been the biggest learning curve.
"I feel like I've opened Pandora's Box in terms of throwing."
Davies spent a year sidelined after his surgery but returned to competition by securing his seventh consecutive F63 shot put title at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.
Currently training in Adelaide under renowned throwing coach Dale Stevenson, Davies has adopted a more cautious approach to managing his body, especially after pushing through pain at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
"I wanted to explore every option because I didn't feel like a student in the relationship anymore. To move away has been really refreshing," he said.
"I thought I might have left it a little too late in my career, but where science and medicine have evolved, I've realised there's a lot left to squeeze out of the lemon."
Davies expressed disappointment with his silver medal performance in shot put at the 2024 Paralympics, which motivated him to make changes to remain competitive against rivals such as Kuwait's Faisal Sorour.
"Losing on someone else's terms was not nice. It wasn't because he was better, it was because I was broken," Davies reflected.
"I look back now, and I was almost like a big wooden door, spinning around in a circle."
Expectations and Technical Adjustments
Despite holding the world number one ranking, Davies has lowered his personal expectations for the upcoming Games, though he acknowledges public anticipation for another gold medal.
He is currently adapting to a new throwing technique, which involves a higher trajectory, and is working to avoid reverting to previous habits that limit his performance.
"People are expecting me to go in there [and defend the gold medal], but I really don't know," he admitted when asked about his prospects in Scotland.
"Because I've changed so much technically, I'm caught between two movement patterns.
"I've been put on a new graph with a higher trajectory, but I need to stop going back to the old favourites because it's bringing my ceiling down.
"Taking a couple of steps back to go further forward is probably where I'm at at the moment.
"It's tough, but I've got the experience. If anyone is going to do it, it's probably going to be me."
Looking ahead, Davies aims to win shot put gold at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles and anticipates that the Glasgow Games may be his last Commonwealth appearance.
"My main focus is shot put, not discus anymore. We know there is always a lottery with the Para events at the Commonwealth Games," he explained.
"I'm a lot older now, and I think there is a realistic chance that this could be my last one. I think this will definitely be my last discus competition, anyway.
"If there is shot put in the next Commonwealth Games, then great. LA is where I'm going for that gold."
