“Without boccia I don’t know where I’d be,” world champion Claire Taggart tells the WSA. “There's this idea that being a wheelchair user with a severe physical disability means you have a real poor quality of life, but boccia has enhanced my quality of life.”
Image: ParalympicsGB / Boccia UK
Over the last decade Claire Taggart has transformed from being an initially reluctant boccia participant, to a passionate champion of the sport.
She is also a history-making Paralympian for Northern Ireland who became her nation’s first-ever global gold medallist in the sport at last year’s World Championships.
While “really proud” of those achievements and the positivity her successes have generated in her homeland the 28-year-old is acutely aware that boccia has something of a traditional image problem.
“Everyone in boccia falls into the trap of describing it as similar to bowls and that makes people think about grandads playing, but it’s nothing like that,” Claire insists.
“It’s dynamic, there’s nerve-racking tension, it comes down to the finest millimetres and it’s brilliant for inclusivity as people who are not able to do any other Paralympic sport can play it!”
Her last point is particularly poignant and of personal significance too.
“I was able-bodied, or non-disabled until I was around 16-17, when I started to stumble, my muscles got very tight and then I was diagnosed with dystonia at 19,” she reveals.
“It’s a progressive condition which has led to my current position as a powerchair user, unable to walk, stand and I require a lot of help with personal care.”
While the prognosis and physical trials presented obvious challenges there were wider reaching impacts on her life.
“When I was diagnosed with my disability, I kind of fell away from my peers who all went to university and I didn’t because I had no idea what my future held,” Claire tells the WSA.
Finding a Para Sport focus
In search of a “new community and new friends” Claire initially took up wheelchair basketball and then wheelchair rugby, but her time in those sports only lasted around six months as her “fast progressing” condition resulted in further mobility issues with her feet, spine and hands.
A coach suggested trying boccia, but having experienced the fast-paced ‘thrill’ of rugby and basketball she was initially reluctant and admits that a first ‘taster’ session did not immediately captivate her.
“I thought it was pretty dull and something for old people, but a community coach convinced me to try out for the Northern Ireland squad and that was the point I realised I could make a future out of this,” Claire says with a smile.
“In the space of about two years I went from having no prospects and no idea about Para sports, to joining (the British) World Class Programme and then the Paralympics, which is mental!”
Image: ParalympicsGB / Boccia UK
'Medal cabinet? I have a shoebox in a cupboard!'
At the Rio 2016 Claire became the first Northern Irish athlete to compete at a Paralympic Games in boccia.
She also competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games and in addition to her global title in 2022 also has a host of other international honours to her name – not that she is particularly sentimental when it comes to displaying those honours.
“I find it difficult to ‘boast and brad’,” she says with a smile.
“I’m quite shy and modest and don’t shout about my own achievements and when people ask if I have a big trophy cabinet, I just tell the truth, no, I have a shoebox in my cupboard where I keep the medals.”
Claire admits her performances do bring “pressure” with there now being a degree of expectation that she will deliver regular successes at major events.
“I do feel pressure and a lot of external pressure that I perceive to be there, but perhaps isn’t as I also put a lot of pressure on myself,” she admits.
“My progressive condition means I have to adapt sometimes, but I’ve got the determination and I’ve definitely got the stubbornness – my family and boyfriend will confirm that – to fight.
“And what I love about this sport is that it’s difficult, even when non-disabled people try it they’re surprised by the challenges, so it’s one where you never stop learning.”
Image: ParalympicsGB / Boccia UK
'You need to see it, to be it'
Claire admits she never particularly saw herself as a ‘role model’ but is aware that in order for the sport to grow there needs to be greater athlete exposure and coverage of major events.
“If you have a severe physical disability, which means you couldn’t do any other sport, well unless there’s mainstream medal coverage of boccia you’re probably not going to know what your actual potential is,” she states.
“After nearly 10 years playing the sport there are still so many people who don’t know about it and it’s really difficult for our programme to get the recognition for what we do and achieve.
“Without boccia I don’t know where I would be and I just want to spread knowledge of how much good it can do and help get more people involved.”
Claire hopes that might change come the Paris 2024 Paralympics, which - as they are in France - will take place in time-zone which is easier for people to follow in the UK than they experienced during the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games in Brazil and Japan respectively.
Image: ParalympicsGB / Boccia UK
Historic Paralympic potential at Paris 2024
When the sport made its Paralympic debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Games there were five categories, two female, two male and one mixed team.
Carol Johnson of Great Britain and the USA’s Nancy Anderson had the honour of becoming the first female boccia champions at a Paralympic Games.
However, from the 1988 Games through to Tokyo 2020 the categories became mixed and just three women have claimed an individual gold since.
Come Paris 2024, some forty years later, separate categories for each gender will return and Claire is aiming to take full advantage.
“It’s going to be a really special moment for women,” Claire tells the WSA.
“Being the first time (in forty years) that it’s split means that whoever is on that podium in Paris will be making history.
“Obviously I’d like it to me and I’m so proud when I’m out there representing Northern Ireland and my community, but at the same time I’m trying not to build it up too much in my head.
“Success would be a medal, but I’m also looking to be there and compete at a level I’m happy with and obviously shine a little light on my sport so more people see it and help get more people involved!