Sport In Profile UK Issue 16 | Page 31

Paul Smith I also have a very analytical approach to strongman so I break events down to their constituent parts and work out exactly what fitness components and skill I need to train in order to be good at an event. The last thing to cause my success is purely having a lot of determination and a lack of willingness to give up; I think I got a lot of this from boxing as a teenager where I had to work very hard during the training sessions. There have been events where I have beaten physically superior athletes purely by wanting to win more and pushing through pain and discomfort. SIP: Could you tell us more about your plans for 2018? PS: So far my only confirmed competition is the Ultimate Strongman World Championships in February; it’s the strongest field I will have competed against so far so I’m really excited about the opportunity. I really want to establish myself on the international scene in 2018 so I hope I can