Will Arnott, who died on Monday, aged 25, will be remembered as a first-class athlete and a great team-mate who will be missed by all of us.

Our thoughts are with his dad Ian, and of course Connor, who has spent the last decade alongside Will, forming a strong friendship and sporting partnership.

Will was a formidable BC3 boccia player who represented ParalympicsGB at the Paris Paralympic Games this summer. His steely determination saw him rise in the world rankings to the number seven spot by the close of the 2024 season.

Glynn Tromans coached Will and said:

“Will was loved all around the world and had a positive impact on people wherever he went.
“I started working with him in 2018, alongside his former coach Barry Bowden. It was clear from the beginning that Will was a special human being and was going to be a great player. He represented Great Britain for the first time in 2019, making the final of the Zagreb Challenger in his first international event.
“Because of the Covid years, he had to wait until 2022 to get his next international opportunity but his capacity for hard work alongside his amazing ramp operator Connor Welfare; and the drive they both had to improve every day, saw a meteoric rise through the rankings.

will arnott realising his dream of becoming a paralympian in paris

“He became a Paralympian this year in Paris, as well as a regular on the podium at World Boccia Challengers, World Cups and at the Para European Championships in 2023. He moved into the world's top ten, and his ambitions knew no bounds.
“My memories are of Will playing cards; chatting away after everybody else has gone to bed; winning the Christmas quiz just last week; making friends around the world; as well as being a tough sportsman and a fierce competitor. So many people will be so sad at this news because fundamentally he was not just a great player, he was a great guy. He will be truly missed.”

Stephen McGuire, Will’s Boccia UK team-mate, said:

“We are all extremely saddened to hear of Will's passing. A true gentleman and a giant of our sport. I'm honoured to have shared many moments with Will on and off the Boccia court. A true sportsman with a love of football and a passion for the Paralympic Games.
“It was a privilege to share his dream of becoming a Paralympian, alongside Connor. He will absolutely stay in our memories as an extremely talented athlete and an example to us all. Will was a role model to many and a friend to everyone he met. His spirit, determination and kindness will forever be a part of Boccia UK and he will forever be a part of our team and forever in our hearts.”

will arnott in the BC3 pairs event with sally kidson at paris paralympics

Performance Director Greg Baker said:

“It's hard to comprehend the loss of Will and the sadness we all feel and our thoughts are with his family and friends. Will touched so many lives with his passion, determination and cheery character. He was an absolute pleasure to work with, a fighter on the court and was always reflecting and analysing as to how he could improve. Just a couple of weeks ago, Will was talking through his plans for the Los Angeles Paralympic cycle and had dreams to compete in Brisbane in 2032. A dream that came true for Will was being able to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with his family all watching and cheering him on.
“Off the court, Will was cheerful, always having a laugh, always playing games and of course a passionate Arsenal fan. He also could not stop talking about boccia even when he was off court, especially with his ramp assistant, Connor. The relationship they formed was truly remarkable and they seemed more like brothers.
“He will be missed by so many, not only in the UK but from all over the world, as Will gained great relationships with many athletes from different countries, which is a testament to his character and how much he was loved. A great person and a world class boccia athlete.”

If you need support at this time, there are many organisations who can help such as Cruse Bereavement Support.

We will update you further with funeral arrangements.