Q&A with Beth Moulam

How did you first start playing boccia?

When I was 10, I was asked to play by the local council in the Surrey Youth Games. I’d never heard of the sport before. I only had a thirty minutes of practice before the competition day!  But it was brilliant and I was hooked.

What is your advice for someone starting out in the sport?

Boccia is a great way to make friends and have fun.  Try and find a club in your local community or school and enjoy playing. 

Summarise your greatest achievements…

Being selected for the Paralympic Games!

Away from boccia, I have achieved a 1st in my Social Policy degree from the University of York. I also use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) - like Stephen Hawking - and I have done a lot of public speaking and presentations around the world on the subject.

What are you looking forward to most about Tokyo?

Being on the international stage. Being part of the GB Boccia Squad and supporting my team mates on and off court.

Meeting athletes in other sports who are likeminded that they too have worked hard for many years to earn their place at the Paralympics.

Beth Moulam with assistant Christie Hutchings. Credit: GettyImages.

What’s your favourite Paralympic memory?

I was six years old at the time of the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. I watched Caroline Baird win gold in the 400m and silver in the 100m. She had Cerebal Palsy and was interviewed on TV and spoke like me.  I knew if she could be an athlete so could I.  I immediately wrote to her (I didn’t know her address but the postman took care of that) and I had a reply two weeks later.  We met and are still friends today.

What are you looking forward to most about Tokyo?

Being on the international stage. Being part of the GB Boccia squad and supporting my team-mates on and off the court.

I’m looking forward to meeting other athletes from other sports who are likeminded. They too have worked hard for many years to earn their place at the Paralympics.

What do people need to excel in the sport?

Commitment and determination to succeed, but you need to enjoy it too. 

Practice pays off and you need to have a support team that want you to succeed. They will be your biggest fans and cheerleaders - getting you to training regularly, acting as an assistant, referee or coach for your own training and being there for competitions. 

Having a positive mindset is essential, wanting to succeed and not being afraid of taking risks. You need to be resilient with knock backs and be able to get up to go again. 

Outside of boccia, what do you enjoy doing?

Public speaking! I first spoke at an international conference at the age of 12. It was amazing because people chose to come and listen, asked questions afterwards and sought me out afterwards to talk to me.  It was the first time I felt valued and respected for the hard work it is to use AAC.

I also enjoy crafting using a cricut machine.

Anything else we should know?

I might be an individual BC3 athlete, but I am part of a team with my sports assistant.  We are a unit both on and off court and I could not do what I do without the unstinting support of Christie. She helps me to dress, eat, shower, ensures we get to places on time and then she becomes a super-human robot on court being effective and efficient as a ramp assistant so we can achieve together

Read more about the GB Boccia Squad. If you have been inspired to play boccia, take a look at our Athlete Recruitment.