Paris 2024 Flash Quotes: Boccia

Comments from ParalympicsGB boccia players following the day’s first session.

David Smith won his first BC1 pool match against Brazil’s José Carlos Chagas de Oliveira 5-2.

Patrick Wilson beat teammate Will Arnott 5-3 in their first BC3 group game.

David Smith

Sport: Boccia, BC1

Age: 35

Hometown: Eastleigh

“I’m feeling really good. I’m a little bit disappointed with the score but the first game is always awkward. I was really nervous and I think it showed in the first couple of ends, I was pumped up. The problem was I was so up for the first two ends and then I relaxed. And when I relax, the difference in my power meant that my power gauge went through the roof, so the pace control I had in the first two ends left me in the third end. Just a little bit frustrating that when I relaxed and thought “I’m in here” I relaxed too much and gave away two points so I had to dig out the last end a bit.

“It was a massively important win. It’s a pool of three and I don’t know what’s going to happen. It could go either way to be honest. It’s a tough pool for him as well because he [de Oliveira] was a semi-finalist in Tokyo and now he has to win the next game to survive. He has to win by three or four to stay in and then I can’t afford to lose. So it’s still all to play for and that’s why I would have liked a few more points for a bit of security.

“The environment was really good. I’m surprised they weren’t louder to be honest. The world number one has been world number one for years and is miles better than anyone else so the fact that the French athlete, who I think is ranked 19th in the world, took him to a tie-breaker, I’m surprised they weren’t louder.

“I’m looking forward to my second pool game. I’ve got a day off tomorrow so I can relax, recover, almost put this one to bed and start again. It’s now a knockout all the way through to the final.”

Patrick Wilson

Sport: Boccia, BC3

Age: 28

Hometown: Edinburgh

“It was a difficult match but I got through it. It was important to get through it. It’s always a bit awkward to play against a teammate but we did it in the right way. I’m excited to get out there and try to get my second win. I’ve got to be good to do that.”

Will Arnott

Sport: Boccia, BC3

Age: 25

Hometown: Reading

“It’s a disappointing result. The game was close and then it wasn’t, it just sort of slipped away in the third end. On both of Paddy’s jacks, I struggled to get in and was wasting balls, giving him opportunities to get in.

“Getting those last couple of points on the last end to close up the score keeps the group wide open, depending on results there is still a very good chance of getting through. I’m in the late game tomorrow night so I’ll have some time to decompress, go through that game and come back refreshed.”

On playing against a teammate:

“It's difficult. There was quite a good chance of playing him but it does feel different. We know each other so well, we’ve come into this having played eight or nine training matches against each other in the week leading up to this. It’s always going to be a challenge but it’s something you get used to.”

On the experience:

“It’s incredible to be out there. It’s a great experience and I’m looking forward to being out there at least a couple more times, and hopefully more than that.”