2024 – a year in sport, for Claire Morrison.
By William Moncrieff, Communications Coordinator
What a year 2024 has been for Claire Morrison, a current board member of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and performance coach with Boccia UK. Claire attended the Paris 2024 Paralympics, helping Paralympics GB reach new heights on the boccia court.
However, the year started off with uncertainty, with Paralympic qualification looming over athletes and coaches: “The year started off with a focus on trying to qualify the BC4 pair (Stephen McGuire and Fiona Muirhead)”, Claire explained.
Things were looking good when Kayleigh Brown achieved her lifelong dream and qualified for the Paralympics. However, this news was followed quickly by a disappointing result where the BC4 partnership of Stephen and Fiona didn’t manage to qualify as a pair. Meaning Claire’s and the coaching team’s plans had changed. “When the pair didn’t qualify the focus shifted to Stephen trying to qualify as an individual.”
For Stephen, things were still looking turbulent as his only option of going to Paris was via a bipartite slot; the first time that World Boccia had done this.
On July 1st, Stephen found out that both he and fellow Scot, Patrick Wilson (BC3), received bipartite slots. To mark a fourth Games for Stephen.
“I was absolutely delighted, because he was sitting 3rd in the world rankings at the time, having won one world cup, having come second in another and won a Challenger in the season so far. It was one of those ones where you thought, there should be no reason why he doesn’t get a slot, based on his form that year, his position in the rankings and overcoming injury.”
The Paris Paralympics started on August 28th, and Stephen was continuing his form, nicely working his way through the pool stages to advance to the quarterfinals. “The quarter final was going to be one of his biggest tests as he was probably going to be facing a Paralympic medallist and he just absolutely blew him away. Stephen just went out on court and played one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play”, reflected Claire.
Next up was Stephen’s semifinal and despite a shaky end to the game, he found himself proceeding through to the BC4 Paralympic final. On the morning of the final Claire said: “I remember saying to him, ‘whatever happens today, it is going to be a good day. You’re going to get your Paralympic medal’ ”, said Claire.
In the final Stephen took the first end 3-0, against Colombia’s Edilson Chica Chica. The Colombian fought back in the second end drawing level (3-3). Stephen remained calm and bounced back, dominating the third end with five points (8-3). The Colombian had to pull something special out of the bag to leapfrog into the lead. However, Stephen only allowed him to score two points, resulting in Stephen claiming the title, 8-5.
The win for Stephen was a 20 yearlong dream coming true. “It was amazing, it gives me goosebumps now even just thinking about it. All that work, all that perseverance has come together. To be in that moment with him was unreal”, Claire said.
What made the moment extra special was that Stephen’s brother, former Paralympian Peter McGuire, was commentating on the BC4 final with Channel 4.
“At the time, I thought to myself that once that day was finished, that’s my tears done. Then I heard Peter’s commentary piece and that just set me off again”, said Claire.
At the same time, Kayleigh was making strides at her first Paralympics. Claire took the time to reflect on Kayleigh’s debut Games.
“That first game that Kayleigh played, where she went out there and became the Paralympian that she always wanted to be, in some ways for me that was as big as Stephen winning the gold medal.”
Claire continued to say: “She narrowly lost her first game but the way she held herself, the way she embraced that environment was fantastic.”
Kayleigh put in a fantastic shift, to make it to the quarterfinals but Gischa Zayana (INA) put an end to her individual Paralympic campaign, taking the game 8-2.
For Claire to be selected to represent ParalympicsGB as part of the coaching staff is always special. “It is such an honor, I’ve always loved sports and I loved the Olympics but as soon as I got involved with disability sport and SDS, the Paralympics became such a big part of my life, as a spectator and now as a coach.”
“Even now when I go to something like a training camp it means so much when I put my GB kit on, I have to pinch myself.”
For Claire it has been an amazing year. “We hear so much about the power of sport and that has played out so much throughout my life, there is such a sense of pride.”
Now coming to the end of 2024, it is moving into award season and Claire picked up Coach Of The Year at the SDS, Scottish Women In Sport and Sportscotland award ceremonies.
“Again, that is something that I am proud of. Being in the spotlight isn’t something that sits naturally comfortably with me. It has been amazing to get the Scottish Disability Sport Coach of the Year Award and now the Scottish Women in Sport award, purely because you know that I know that the athletes really value what I have done.”
However, for Claire these awards mean a lot more than personal recognition: “It is really important as you know, being in different environments – whether it’s being a women in sport or being involved in Parasport – these are amazing experiences and opportunities for everybody. If I get a bit of recognition, it’s not really about me, it’s about boccia and it’s about Parasports.”
Reflecting on the year, Claire remarks: “It was a year where dreams came true. I know that sounds cheesy, but in a sentence that’s what it was and it’s truly remarkable.”
If you have enjoyed hearing about Claire’s journey throughout 2024 and would like to get involved as a coach, participant, official or volunteer, please contact your Regional Development Manager or contact SDS by email: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call: 0131 317 1130.
Make sure to stay uptodate on all opportunities throughout Scotland, by following Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.