Write a commentDan Gebski continues his From Zero to Hero interviews in an interview with Sean Smith.
Sean and myself know each other quite a long time. We have met at least 12 years ago somewhere while doing doors in Newry.
I have always thought Sean was “one fit damn Fella”. The time we met the first time I knew he was involved in boxing, but there is much much more about him than that. He is the family man who does a lot of positive things and we all should learn from him. Please get ready for my story about my next Hero Sean Smith.
DG: Thanks Sean for agreeing to meet me for this interview. I know you a long time and I am very humbled to have you as my friend. Can you tell me about your background? Where do you coming from? What about your family and career?
SSm: I would like to say it is my pleasure to be with you here Dan and it is a pleasure to be asked for interview. I was born bred and reared in Newry as they say. I grew up here, living here, never moved from here and probably will always stay here forever. I am originally from Quayside area but moved after 17 years to Windmill are
I have my mother, brother and three sisters. I have three kids as well so you can see life has been busy for me.
Since a young age I have been working in one of the local bakery`s in Newry. At the moment I am a manager of a bakery in Newry as well. I have to say I am very proud of this experience and enjoy it very much.
DG:We all know one of your passions is boxing? Could you tell me about it more? Have you got any achievement in this discipline?
SSm: I have started boxing since a very young age too. I have been boxing for a couple of boxing clubs in Newry and was boxing in Scotland and all over the Ireland. I always thought boxing was a very good sport which teaches discipline. Also I think boxing kept me in the right path my whole life. I have been boxing in 9 counties and all Ireland championships.
DG:We could not not mention the biggest passion of yours which is running. How many marathons have done in your life and what was your biggest challenge while doing it?
SSm: I think I have done around 80 marathons events in all over the world so far. I am proud to say I have done them all twice in my life so it gives us 160 marathons all together. The majority of my marathons I have done for charities. I remember while doing world majors I have fundraised approximately £50k for Southern area. I have really enjoyed this even though I think people were sick of me going and asking for sponsorship. But the way I look at it is, if it wasn’t for people like me out there to help the charities wouldn`t do such an amazing job and survive.
DG: Could you tell me more about Boston Marathon you have done it and the unfortunate event that happened at it?
SSm: The Boston Marathon's will be one of my favourites and it is very touchy one for me. In fact it is one of the oldest marathons in the world. I remember well that day it was in 2013 when the bomb exploded. it was my first time in Boston and I didn’t really know anybody as I travelled on my own. Once I have finished and crossed the line I rang home to let family know and went to hotel to change and then i heard this big explosion. It was big shock for all and Boston was shut down after the explosion. It was shocking that something like that could happen in such a big event. I have made a lot of friends since from around the world. Especially from Boston, New York, North Carolina. I had to come back again after it and then I came back to do this marathon in 2015.
DG: I am going to tell you that you are Hero for me. We know you saved a baby from a fire while on your daily training running in Newry. Could you tell me more about that day? And what happened after it?
SSm: In that particular situation I just have been in the right place at the right time. I don’t see myself as a hero either.
While running with my son basically we stopped at the door of a house when we heard a baby crying and seen smoke coming directly from the kitchen. I ran and took the baby away from the stairs and and her sister from the kitchen. I have learned later it was a Polish family. I think no matter who you are and where you are from, you would do the same as I did. I was glad that everybody was safe and nobody lost their life.
DG:What is your number one dream and achievement in life?
SSm: We all have dreams and achievements and we all can put our minds into something and we get Dream believe Achieve. I will keep this answer simpe, my dream number one is to be happy content and healthy. If l go through life like that I will feel like a hero for myself. My biggest proud moment are my great 3 kids I have and that is my biggest achievement for me to be honest.
DG:You probably know Newry itself is the diverse city. What do you think about diversity? And Do you have many foreign national friends?
SSm: I don’t have a deep answer on this but as for me in life if you're nice to me I will be nice to you. I don’t care where you are from and what you do as long you treat me the same way as I treat you. I have quite few foreign national friends in Newry who I work with. I have never had any bother with any foreign national person in my life.
DG:Thank you Sean for being who you are and keep her lit. Good health Dan.
