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Gold medalist Zoe Smith: 'I almost retired'

England's gold medal-winning weightlifter Zoe Smith says that a back injury almost forced her to retire from the sport.

England weightlifter Zoe Smith has revealed how a back injury almost forced her to retire before winning gold in this summer's Commonwealth Games.

Smith saw off the challenge of Nigeria's Ndidi Winifred to win her -58kg category in Glasgow on Saturday, before celebrating the triumph with a backflip.

"The backflip was for my friend - it was his birthday so he said I had to do one for him," she told BBC Sport.

"I did consider not coming back to the sport at some points during my back injury but I'm so glad I did. I'm absolutely enamoured with the gold medal."

Welsh veteran Michaela Breeze finished third in the event.

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Zoe Smith of England lifts on her way to Gold in the Women's 58kg A Final at Scottish Exhibition And Conference Centre during day three of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 26, 2014
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