Val Smith has competed at five editions of the Commonwealth Games and is a four-time medallist.
The Nelson based athlete won silver in the singles at Dehli 2010, bronze with the fours in Glasgow 2014 and bronze with both the fours and triples in Birmingham 2022.
Smith is a two-time World Champion. She enjoys a variety of social activities including reading, movies, watching as much sport as possible and being around family and friends.
Smith won a bronze medal at the 2004 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Leamington Spa before winning three medals four years later at the 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship]] in the singles and pairs gold medal and team event (silver medal) in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 2016, she won a bronze medal in the 2016 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Women's Fours, fours at the 2016 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Christchurch with Angela Boyd, Katelyn Inch and Kirsten Edwards
In 2020, she was selected for the 2020 World Outdoor Bowls Championship]] in Australia but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Selected for World Championships 2020. In 2023, she was selected as part of the team to represent New Zealand at the 2023 World Outdoor Bowls Championship.
She participated in the 2023 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Triples women's triples and the 2023 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Fours. In the fours, her team won the bronze medal. One week later in the triples (partnering Tayla Bruce and Leeane Poulson), the team won the group undefeated before winning a tense quarter final against Malaysia and a semi final against Canada. In the final they met Australia, losing 16–9 but claiming the silver medal.
Smith has won seven medals at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championships including four golds, the latest gold being at the 2019 Asia Pacific Bowls Championships in the Gold Coast.
In addition to her international successes Smith has won seven titles at the New Zealand National Bowls Championships. She won the pairs four times in 2004 and 2011 (with Jo Edwards) and 2019 and 2021 (with Lisa Prideaux) and the fours in 2010, 2017 and 2023.