PARALYMPIC gold medallist Dave Smith has admitted he felt so low because of cancer that he thought of taking his own life.
The sporting legend from Aviemore, who is soon to represent Great Britain again in his first major race since fighting the disease for the third time, admitted battling severe depression.
After an MRI scan which showed no further sign of a tumour that had come perilously close to crushing his spinal cord, he said he willed himself to keep going despite coming close to rock bottom.
He said: “It got so low that I lay in the shower thinking about taking my own life.
“I went through a process of denial, then depression.
“Eventually I went and saw a psychologist, who I still see every week.
“The only time I feel complete is when I’m riding a bike.
“When I’m on a bike I feel free.”
Among the people who helped Dave was former WBC Heavyweight Champion boxer Frank Bruno who has battled bipolar disorder.
Dave said: “Athletes are very good at bottling things up. I hope by speaking out it will help others.”
He will take part in a 20km time trial at the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Ostend, Belgium, next month.
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