Truth to Triumph – Ashton Smith pt 1
Truth to Triumph
Ashton Smith pt 1
How many of you have had to go through adversity to achieve your dreams? How many of you have had to face these adversities while enduring racism, being taken advantage of. How many of you had to go through all of that while having a disability? How many of you went through all of that and still managed to excel to the top ranks in your field?
Well, that is what you will be hearing about today…
My guest is Blind, but is a visionary. Ashton Smith has had to overcome adversity at every level and at every turn, against all odds. Now, she is sharing her personal story and her unique personal and powerful insights and life changing opinions and advice on her podcast called “Truth to Triumph.” She is a Special Olympic Gold Medalist Tri-Athlete, motivational speaker and brand ambassador. Ashton says every person can rise above the pain, naysayers and abuse and become the champion that God has created them to be. She is also the author of a book titled, “Swimming Upstream to Realize the Dream.”
Help me welcome to the program, Ashton Smith! Ashton, it is so good to finally have you on the program!
First question I always ask is this, other than that brief information I just shared, tell us in your own words, “Who is Ashton Smith?”
Now, how old were you when you lost your eye sight?
Was that in both eyes?
How did you get through school? Academic wise – we will get the sports element in a minute.
You started swimming at eight years of age? That was while still in elementary school, right?
How did you get involved with swimming?
And your swimming continued to progress in high school?
When did you get involved with the Special Olympics organization?
As you were progressing up the Special Olympics competitions and gaining more and more attention, did they reach out to you to help promote their programs?
You say that the individual athletes are responsible for their own expenses at all times. What does Special Olympics do with the funds raised all over the country? I thought that was for the athletes?
We hear about abuses in organizations, like the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and yes, even Special Olympics. Did you experience any abuse or adversity while with Special Olympics?
You told me that Special Olympics informed you not to use their logo or anything on your individual marketing, like your website, etc. Correct? Has that been resolved?
Let’s fast forward a bit…
How has your Faith helped you in all of this?
Your book, “Swimming Upstream,” when is that scheduled to be published?
Folks, what you’ve heard from Ashton today should be raising your awareness to what is going on right around you on a daily basis. Besides the COVID shutdown, as if that were not bad enough, there are people hurting everywhere.
You need to get in touch with Ashton Smith. Go down into the show notes and click the links. Go to her website. You definitely need to buy her book. That is a definite. You can reach out to her and get more information on that by clicking the links below as well.
As a longtime Special Olympics athlete, I don’t believe Special Olympics is as hateful as what is being presented on this interview. Yes we us athletes do not get paid but as an African American Special Olympics athlete, I have not received racism from my coaches or any Special Olympics personnel. Also, a friend of mine who is also African American, has competed in the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in China, and not a single racist thing was uttered to him or his mother during the World Games. I find it very hard to believe the Special Olympics organization is money hungry and has a disregard for the intellectual disabled. The welcoming nature us athletes received seems to contradict what this lady is actually saying.