Paris 2024: Ones to Watch in boccia

The ten boccia athletes you should be looking out for when the Paris 2024 Paralympics kick off in France this summer 29 Mar 2024

By IPC

With the countdown to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games well and truly in the final stages, our Sport Weeks provide you with the perfect guide to each of the competitions being contested in France. To round off this week, here are the key athletes in boccia.

Adam Peska (Czechia)

Adam Peska and Ivana Peskova smiling with their gold medals — @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

The reigning Paralympic individual BC3 champion took the gold on his Games debut at Tokyo 2020 and will still be the one to beat in Paris after topping the world rankings at the end of 2023.

Andre Ramos (Portugal)

Paralympic boccia athlete Andre Ramos reacts during a match — @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

Ramos just missed the podium at Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth in both the individual and team BC1 competitions. Since then he has gone on to claim bronze at both the 2022 Worlds and 2023 Europeans and will be looking to repeat that feat in the French capital.

Andreza Vitoria Oliveira (Brazil)

A female boccia athlete is preparing to throw a boccia ball at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. — @Fabio Chey/ CPB

The Brazilian is the one to beat in the women’s BC1 competition. After missing the podium at Tokyo 2020, she went on to win both the 2022 world and 2023 Parapan American titles to top the world rankings in her category.

Claire Taggart (Great Britain)

Claire Taggart, a female boccia athlete representing Great Britain, throws a red ball — @Sporting Wales

The number one female BC2 athlete in the world, Taggart cemented her status as a contender for the Paris 2024 podium by winning gold at the 2022 World Championships. The Brit will be hoping it is third time lucky in Paris when she becomes a three-time Paralympian.

Daniel Michel (Australia)

Australian boccia athlete Daniel Michel controls an equipment in his mouth to roll the boccia ball on a ramp. — @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

The Australian will be one of the biggest threats to Adam Peska’s Paralympic title defence in the men’s individual BC3 competition. The reigning Paralympic bronze medallist now has his first world title under his belt, after claiming BC3 gold in 2022.

Hanaa Elfar (Egypt)

Hanaa Elfar, a boccia athlete from Egypt, looks straight. — @Reem Sobhy

Egypt’s rising star broke into the world’s top 20 after winning the Africa Championships BC4 title in 2023. Her impressive form secured her a place at her debut Paralympics in Paris.

Rebeca Duarte (El Salvador)

Rebeca Duarte, a boccia athlete from El Salvador, throws a red ball during competition. — @Santiago Parapan 2023

The El Salvador athlete is currently ranked third in the world in the women’s BC2 after winning silver at both the 2022 Worlds and 2023 Parapan American Games. She will be among the podium favourites when she makes her Paralympic debut in Paris.

Sonia Heckel (France)

Sonia Heckel, a boccia athlete from France, looks at the blue ball set on a ramp by a male sport assistant. — @Florent Perville

Heckel is a medal hopeful for the host nation when she competes in her second Paralympics. She is currently ranked second in the world in the women’s BC3 after winning the European title in 2023.

Watcharapon Vongsa (Thailand)

Thai boccia athlete Watcharaphon Vongsa throws a red ball during a competition. — @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

The world number one in the men’s BC2 category will continue his iconic rivalry and partnership with teammate Worawut Sanengampa in Paris. He is aiming to avenge his defeat in the Tokyo 2020 individual final by Hidetaka Sugimura and claim a fifth Paralympic gold.

Yuk Wing Leung (Hong Kong, China)

Yuk Wing Leung from Hong Kong, China throws a red boccia ball during competition. — @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

Paris will be the sixth Games for the boccia legend. The three-time Paralympic champion is again a podium contender as the reigning individual bronze and pairs silver medallist in the BC4 category.

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website.