By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer
What a journey it has been for Fiona Muirhead in boccia, starting the sport as a hobby and now being a mainstay in both Scotland’s and Boccia UK’s boccia squads.
The 43-year-old started playing the sport in 2018. Little did she know at the time that she would go on to pick up a handful of podium finishes on the international stage, on her way to becoming one of Scotland’s many brilliant female role models.
Over the past eight years, Fiona has been showcasing her abilities in boccia and in the process, she has made herself a household name on the Scottish boccia circuit. This has resulted in Fiona becoming one of Scotland’s most visible female role models in sport.
She said: “There aren’t many women, we are still very much a minority in the sport. We were at Scottish camp last weekend, and it was really nice for all of the new women to see myself and Kayleigh Brown, it’s nice to see the way that things could go.”
Fiona is also very proud of her journey in the sport, coming into it later in life. This is a further reason why she thinks she is a good role model for aspiring athletes.
“I think also, I came in quite late in life, I am the eldest in both squads, so it is nice to say to the other females that you can start later”, Fiona said.
One of the most recent additions to the Scottish Boccia Squad is Rachael Page. Being able to look up and see Fiona competing has been hugely inspirational and helpful for Rachael
“Fiona has been amazing, she is so kind. If there are things that we are not to sure of, we can go to people like her and get some help. Being part of the squad is great. They are all such a lovely bunch”, said Rachael.
Before becoming one of Scotland’s brightest shining lights on the boccia circuit, Fiona started her boccia journey at the sessions in Hamilton. She reflected on this, saying: “Initially, playing was just a social thing. I had no ambitions; I didn’t really appreciate where it could go.”
“It’s been very exciting. It’s been quite sudden. I started it as a hobby and then I progressed through the Scottish talent squad,” she said.
Throughout her journey in school, Fiona was not always involved in sport and physical activity, due to her school not delivering inclusive physical education classes – an issue which still remains throughout schools in Scotland.
This resulted in Fiona seeking opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity later in life, looking to gain many of the attached health benefits.
Fiona commented on how it has benefited her, saying: “I have Muscular Dystrophy, so it not only helped to stabilise it but it has also helped me through allowing me to exercise.”
As Fiona has developed in the sport, she has found herself further benefiting from increased physical activity. A further factor in this, is due to Fiona’s involvement in the UK’s World Class Programme, and the support that she has had access to.
“I have been able to access physio and strength and conditioning, and it really has impacted how well I can be, compared to before when I wasn’t training,” Fiona commented.
Fiona has been heavily impacted by the psychological and physiological benefits of boccia. Since her first international tournament in 2022, Fiona has found herself having many life changing experiences through competing.
Fiona said: “I hadn’t done a lot of traveling without my family before, and I was now going to places I wouldn’t have expected. I went to Canada, Brazil, Croatia. It was really nice, and doing it with international athletes, it was really a dream come true.”
A further reason why Fiona has been making herself a role model for any up-and-coming athletes, is due to the BC4 classified athlete’s success whilst competing on the international stage. In terms of podium finishes, 2023 was by far Fiona’s most successful year, winning BC4 Pairs at the Montreal World Cup, followed by a silver in the BC4 Pairs at the 2023 European Para Championships in Rotterdam.
Fiona then went one better, taking gold at the Heraklion Challenger event in Crete.
These podiums are something that Fiona looks back on with a huge amount of pride, saying, “A real highlight would be those podium finishes. Being on the podium and hearing the British national anthem alongside Stephen (McGuire).”
If you are interested in trying out boccia, contact Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) Boccia Development Officer on: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com
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