Following a recruitment process, GB Boccia have recruited Fran Lace as Physio. Fran will join a world leading sports science and medicine team providing support to the World Class Programme athletes.

Dawn Ibrahim (L) and Fran Lace (R) at the Paralymic Games in Rio

Fran qualified from Leeds Met uni in 2008 with a MSc (pre reg) Physiotherapy and went to work as a physiotherapist at Portland college in Mansfield, working with young people with long term disabilities. She started her current role at Sheffield Children’s Foundation Trust in 2010 working with children who have neurological or developmental conditions and need long term physio input in the community. She has completed training in hydrotherapy, massage and soft tissue therapy and postural management. In 2014 she got involved with Boccia, initially as a medical classifier and then working as a contractor with the EIS and the GB Boccia squad. Since then she has travelled to Columbia, Montreal and the Paralympics in Rio with the squad.

Prior to being a physio Fran obtained a degree in sport technology (BSc) from Sheffield Hallam University and worked for a short time as a research assistant in sport engineering.

Performance Director Matt Hammond said "With our Lead Physio Dawn Ibrahim reducing her hours, Fran was the ideal candidate to appoint as physio. She is heavily involved in the Boccia community and has already become a valuable team member in both the domestic training environment and at international competitions. Both the athletes and staff look forward to working more closely with Fran over the Tokyo cycle".