Aled Davies (field athlete)
A dominant force in Paralympic throwing, whose relentless drive turned him into a multiple world champion and home-nation hero.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Welsh Paralympic athlete·Birthday: May 24·Millennials
Biography
Aled Davies doesn't just win medals; he collects them in pairs, establishing a dynasty in the F42 shot put and discus. Born with a congenital impairment, the Welsh athlete channeled a competitive fire into sport, initially in discus. His breakthrough was seismic: at the 2012 London Paralympics, he seized gold in the discus and bronze in the shot put, announcing himself on the biggest stage. From there, he embarked on a streak of dominance, sweeping world and European titles in both events for years. His technique, built on immense power and meticulous refinement, made him nearly unbeatable. Competing for Wales at the Commonwealth Games added a layer of pride, yielding more podium finishes. Davies's career is a narrative of consistent excellence, where each major championship seemed to add another gold to his haul, cementing his status as one of Britain's most successful Paralympic athletes of his generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aled was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aled Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Aled's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Paralympic gold in the F42 discus at London 2012 and gold in the F42 shot put at Rio 2016.
- Secured multiple World Championship gold medals in both shot put and discus, including a double in Lyon 2013.
- Claimed double gold (shot put and discus) at the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships.
- Won a silver medal in the discus representing Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Did You Know?
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours.
He initially trained as a discus thrower before adding shot put to his repertoire.
He won the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award in 2016.
His first major international medal was a discus bronze at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships.
“The circle is my kingdom; everything else is just noise.”
