David wins the gold

DAVID WINS THE GOLD

Britain’s David Smith MBE has won gold, successfully defending his individual boccia title at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He now has five medals from four Paralympic Games.

Qualifying for today’s final wrote him into the history books as Britain’s most successful boccia player of all time.

In a nailbiting final against Chew Wei Lun of Malaysia, Smith trailed after the first end but fought back to take the lead in the next three. With a final score of 4-2 to the Brit, there were emotional scenes with his long-term on-court assistant Sarah Nolan.

David Smith celebrates as he wins gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

And on becoming Britain’s best-ever player, Smith said:

“You try not to think about it but it does matter. I do care about that stuff a little bit. You do want to be recognised. This week has been great - having boccia on the livestream for the first time, I've been able to show what I can do. I think the rest of the sport has been able to show what they can do. It's a great sport and that's quite emotional too; that finally boccia is getting the recognition it deserves.”

Boccia is now the fastest-growing sport within the Paralympic movement and the standards are constantly being raised:

“I've never seen a standard so high so early in the competition,” said Smith, who has been coached by Glynn Tromans since he won his gold medal in Rio. “I feel as if I’ve played about seven finals. It's just been so tough; I've never known it like that. It's nuts to think that we've just had a pandemic and we've all been locked indoors for a while and then suddenly they come out here and they're bashing it out of the park.”

Boccia UK Performance Director Helen Nicholls is celebrating the success:

“David is an incredible athlete and has earned legendary status. When you’re talking about British Paralympic greats, David is right up there and has done so much to promote and further the sport.

“What we have seen from him here in Tokyo have been absolute masterclasses in the strategy and delivery that’s required at this level as it comes down to millimetre margins.”

David Smith receives his fifth medal from four Paralympic Games

Earlier in the day, team-mate Scott McCowan from Dundonald in Scotland just missed out on the bronze after falling to Australia’s Daniel Michel.

There is little time for the British squad to celebrate, however, as it is back to business in the Ariake Arena tomorrow when the Team and Pairs events begin.

Boccia UK is supported by UK Sport and The National Lottery.