Sally Kidson's Paralympic boccia journey

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Sally is 19 years old and has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. She is a boccia player on the Boccia UK World Class Programme and is making her Paralympic debut in Paris. In this blog for Genetic Alliance UK, Sally talks about her boccia journey to date and how people can get involved.

I was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 2 when I was just over two years old. A diagnosis with a degenerative condition is not something I feel has affected me too much. Having SMA is all I’ve ever known; I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything because I never really had it in the first place. 

That being said, having SMA has brought me many opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had, the most notable of which is boccia. Boccia is a Paralympic sport originally designed for people with cerebral palsy, but now anyone that fits into the classification criteria can compete. 

WHO CAN PLAY

Those with a condition of non-cerebral origin, like myself, are able to compete in the BC4 class if they are able to throw the balls. If you lack the strength or control to throw the ball, you can compete in the BC3 class where athletes use a ramp to propel the balls onto the court and have a Ramp Operator competing alongside them. The Ramp Operator also receives a medal should the athlete make it onto the podium. 

Even those with severe weakness such as myself can compete in the BC3 class as all you need to do is be able to direct your assistant to line up the ramp and place the ball, release the ball, and – most importantly – think tactically and strategically. 

HOW I STARTED PLAYING

I started playing boccia competitively in 2019, when I was 14. I had a very quick progression in my first couple of months and was able to advance to the top level of domestic competition between March and July of that year. I was able to take a year to develop my skills before the pandemic hit, and that was when I really started to focus on the tactical side of boccia. I spent many, many hours in 2020 and 2021, whilst trying to burn time shielding, watching international boccia players, past and present, to try and get a better understanding of the game at a time when I couldn’t get on a court and play.

In the summer of 2021, I attended a Paris Potential day with Boccia UK and, after a year of individual coaching and more time training, I was invited to attend a few days of a mini-camp with the BC3 Boccia UK squad. At the time, this consisted of Will Arnott, Jamie and Scott McCowan, Patrick Wilson and Robyn McBride. I learnt a lot from such experienced players and shortly after was invited to make my international debut with Boccia UK in Poznan in the summer of 2022. I was then selected to join the World Class Programme at the beginning of 2023.

BOCCIA HAS GIVEN ME INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES

Since then, I have had so many opportunities that I would never have even dreamed of. I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world to compete and will be making my Paralympic debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. A lot of people with a condition like SMA may struggle physically to travel long-haul or be able to cope with long training or competition days, but playing a sport like boccia at international level places you in situations that can benefit your everyday life. I believe my involvement in boccia helps me manage fatigue and other everyday issues. Plus, it has given me incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

I think my story proves that you don’t have to start doing something straight out of the womb to be able to progress to a high level. You truly can start at any time, and Boccia UK is actively looking for people who might meet one or more of the international classification criteria:

  • Impaired muscle power (for example as a result of spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida);

  • Limb deficiency (total or partial);

  • Hypertonia;

  • Ataxia;

  • Dyskinesia (including Athetosis and Dystonia);

  • Impaired passive range of movement (for example as a result of arthrogryposis and contractures).

So if you, or somebody you know, meets any of that criteria and is a critical thinker and fancies a challenge, do get involved. Take a look at the Boccia UK website and get in touch. And if competing in boccia isn’t for you, then you can be sure to catch us at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games from 29 August 2024 until 5 September 2024.