Smith finds belief
to eat or something like that and try and build a relationship with them,’’ Smith said.
“Obviously they have heaps of trust issues.’’
Once they have the girls’ trust, the organisation is able to get them out of sex work and into a rehabilitation program where they are helped to find work and resume a life free from abuse.
“I don’t have kids but if you had kids, to not be able to control what’s happening to them, I think that’s really sad just in itself,” Smith said.
To see them regain trust in people and see joy in the smallest things has given Smith new perspective.
“I guess there is hope and that’s the cool thing,’’ he said.
“I thought I had a pretty crazy story but theirs is crazier and to see them turn their lives around, that’s so hopeful.
“They’re happy, they love their lives and they get to work again and do all kinds of cool stuff I take for granted.
“I’ve already spoken to (Destiny Rescue) and I want to get a group of my friends together from the church and do a bit of a mission trip over there next year and see if we can help out.’’
A middle-distance
dy- namo, Smith was lauded throughout his junior career as the next great Australian swimmer but says he took that and everything around him for granted.
“All throughout my childhood I was compared to Ian Thorpe and I just didn’t appreciate that and I was always searching for something because swimming wasn’t satisfying me,’’ he said.
“I thought drugs were the answer but really it destroyed everything around me and myself.’’
After being taken back in by original mentor Denis Cotterell at Miami, Smith has again found satisfaction in swimming and returned to the Australian fold at the world championships this year. His 200m form has him in prime position to be a member of the Australian team for next year’s Olympics in Rio but his recent experience has helped take the edge off his expectations as he finds contentment in his life outside the pool.
“I’ve tried to lower all the expectation off myself and all the pressure and I’m just looking forward to seeing what happens,’’ he said.
“I’m a Christian now, so I’ve found (satisfaction) more in my faith (than in swimming) and when my faith is centred in my life, everything has just been working out.
“I’m so content with where I’m at.’’
But he acknowledged his own journey had helped make him appreciate life.
“I actually heard a quote the other day – ‘In our darkest days, that’s when we grow’.
“That’s like me. When I was in addiction and addicted to drugs, even though I didn’t see it, it’s made me the person I am.
“Drugs and alcohol have been such a problem in our community and to see that I am a success story, it has to give hope to others.”