Inside the mind of Britain’s greatest boccia player: David Smith OBE

David Smith OBE needs no introduction — Britain’s most decorated boccia player, three-time Paralympic gold medallist - and a defining figure in the sport.

For the second instalment of our Boccia UK Q&A Series, we caught up with him to hear how winter training has been going, what he’s been focusing on behind the scenes, and how he’s shaping up for the year ahead. From technical tweaks to mindset shifts, David shares an honest look at what it takes to stay at the top of the game season after season.

david smith obe in boccia action

Last season highlight — What was your best moment from last season?

In terms of my playing, probably the semi final in the World Cup in Seoul. I don’t think I can execute and spot shots better than that.

Tough match — What was the hardest match you played and why?

My toughest game was probably my defeat in the final to Indonesia’s Muhamad Syafa. He put me in a few tricky situations that I struggled to get out of.

Big lesson — What important lesson did you learn last season?

The big lesson was to take a slightly more methodical approach to certain situations rather than trying to solve them in one shot.

Team support — How did your coaches or teammates help you last season?

After the season finished, we came together and talked which I found cathartic and it was interesting to see new perspectives, especially from Steph and Paddy. My coach Glynn and I accepted that we had a slight blindspot so it was good to spend the winter figuring it out.

david smith obe winning the europeans

Favourite event — Which event did you enjoy the most and what made it special?

The World Cup in Seoul was amazing and really good competition set-up. The food, city and venue were brilliant to experience for a wheelchair user. We were able to explore easily thanks to the metro. The accessibility was great.

Training focus — What have you been working on most during winter training?

I’ve been working on my physical fitness with my new support team in Wales and Jack (our new Strength & Conditioning coach) to make sure I peak at the right time in competition. Then, I’ve been working on different scenarios and how I need to break them down methodically. Finally, I’ve been refining my technical skills and playing set to be as clinical as possible.

Motivation — What keeps you going on days when training feels hard?

Having a clear plan really helps my motivation and a strong support network to challenge me helps me feel like I'm not doing this on my own.

Season aims — What do you want to achieve this season?

My aim is to win the World Championships and set a marker for my rivals.

Rivals or competition — Is there a player or team you’re excited to face again?

In the BC1s, I'm looking forward to playing everyone inside the top 10 and especially those above me in the rankings. In the Team, we are looking to play lots of different opposition and refine how we play together.

Mindset — How do you stay calm and focused before a big match?

I stay focused on the process and my routine and feed my brain with positive information.

Advice for young players — What advice would you give to someone new to boccia?

Get your own set of balls and play as much as possible in local clubs and competitions.

Looking ahead — What are you most excited about in the year ahead?

I’m looking forward to the World Championships because we are expecting an historic event for our sport. Also, I’m looking forward to going to Kazakhstan as that’s a new location for me on my Boccia world tour 😆

Good luck David!