Tag: Para Athlete

A photo of Patrick Wilson competing in a game of boccia. He is wearing his ParalympicsGB kit

Scottish boccia players competing at the World Championships

Taking on the best.

Scottish boccia players are getting ready to set off in preparation for the World Boccia Championships 2026.

The selected athletes have an exciting opportunity as they prepare themselves for the World Boccia Championships, which are being held next week.

Being held in Seoul, South Korea, the selected athletes have an incredible opportunity to take on the world’s top players, as they all do battle on the boccia courts, in the hope of being revered throughout the boccia community as the World Champion.

The historic KSPO Dome, in Olympic Park will host the World Championships from Monday 24th to Friday 4th September.

The squad that has been selected to represent Boccia UK has a new feel to it, as it combines emerging talent with some experienced faces from the British boccia scene. However, the Scottish representatives provide a wealth of experience to the group having competed at an astonishing combined seven Paralympics.

None will be more experienced than Paralympic champion Stephen McGuire, who is making his sixth start at a World Boccia Championships, at the event, Stephen will be looking to maintain his status as the BC4 Individual and Pairs world number one. Stephen who won the World Boccia Championships in 2016, will be partnering up with England’s Sophie Newnham, where they will be going back to the KSPO Dome, the site where they won BC4 Pairs gold last year at the World Boccia Challenger, in Seoul.

Kayleigh Brown will be hoping to continue her strong play from throughout 2026, which has seen her win two silvers at the World Boccia Challenger, Pajulathi. So far 2026 has been a whirlwind year for the Ayrshire based athlete, as she not only has to get herself ready to regularly compete at an international level, but also has to tend to her newborn son, Klay. Kayleigh will be competing in the Individual competition, along with joining forces with David Smith of Wales, and England’s Rashad Saraj in the BC1/2 Team competition.

Patrick Wilson has had an amazing return to form, as the two-time Paralympian found himself on the podium at the 2026 Boccia World Cup, in Povoa, winning bronze. Renowned as one of Edinburgh’s finest athletes, Patrick will be competing in the Individual competition, whilst joining up with England’s Sally Kidson in the Pairs.

Scottish boccia players selected to represent Boccia UK at the upcoming World Boccia Championships are:

  • BC2 – Kayleigh Brown
  • BC3 – Patrick Wilson & Merideth Greenwood (ramp operator)
  • BC4 – Stephen McGuire

 

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

side-on photo of Joanna Robertson in her racing chair on the track competing at our Senior Athletics Champs

New Resources to Support Para Athlete Coaching & Practice.

Recently Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) in partnership with sportscotland’s Institute of Sport, have launched a new suite of resources designed to support coaches and practitioners working with Para Athletes at pathway and performance level.

 

These new resources aim to enhance understanding, strengthen practice, and ultimately improve the experience and performance of the Para Athletes being supported.

 

The new resources include:

 

  • Para Athlete Impairments, this resource will help coaches and practitioners gain a clear and practical understanding of different impairment types, how they can impact performance, and how to tailor coaching methods and practices to meet individual athlete needs.

 

  • Classification in Para Sport, in this module learners can explore how classification systems work in para sport, why they matter, and how they influence training, competition, and long-term athlete development.

 

  • Supporting Para Athletes, in this resource, coaches and practitioners  can access guidance and strategies to create inclusive, athlete-centred environments that empower para athletes to thrive both in training and competition.

 

launched in advance of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, SDS are looking forward to supporting more people working across para sport to create environments where athletes can flourish. These resources are available for all at no charge, and can be accessed through Brightspace.

 

Self register on to the new resources by clicking on the below links:

 

If you have any questions, email SDS’s Education and Learning Manager Alison Shaw at: alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com

To keep up-to-date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.