Boccia UK say farewell to Performance Director Helen Nicholls

Boccia UK today announced that Performance Director Helen Nicholls will be leaving in April to take up a new position within British sport in the coming months.

Helen Nicolls to leave Boccia UK after four years as Performance Director

Nicholls joined Boccia UK in 2018 to oversee the World Class Programme. In that time, the team has won multiple medals at European level including a clean sweep of gold medals at the BISFed Regional Cup in Nymburg . A key highlight was David Smith OBE winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in an electrifying performance that captured the nation and raised the profile of Boccia.

Boccia UK Chair David Richmond commented; “Helen has been a fantastic Performance Director for Boccia. She has set very high standards for every aspect of the programme and has delivered this with energy, passion and a real warmth for all the athletes and staff.  She steered the sport through the many challenges presented by the pandemic superbly. We are all very sad to see her depart and wish her all the very best for her new role. We are starting the recruitment process for her successor immediately. Thanks to all her hard work and leadership, she leaves the sport in very good shape and raring to go for Paris.”

Nicholls reflected; “My time with the Boccia over the past four years has been hugely rewarding and, globally, Paralympic sport has evolved enormously over the past cycle. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve the athletes and staff of this incredible, important and demanding sport. Seeing David Smith MBE become one of the greatest Paralympic athletes ever in Tokyo was hugely inspiring for both myself and the whole team and demonstrated everything that elite sport should be. I would like to convey my deepest appreciation to all at Boccia UK for their commitment, support and drive to be the best every single day and I am sure that the team will go on to thrive and prosper as we move towards Paris.”