Will Hipwell is a Boccia UK athlete and will be heading to the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympics this summer. It will be his first-ever Paralympic Games.

We caught up with him…

How did you first start playing boccia?

I first started playing boccia at recreational level after school on Monday evenings at a sports club for people with disabilities called the Upside Down Club. I found that I really enjoyed the sport. Unfortunately, the club had to stop due to a shortage of people to run it and help out at the sessions. This meant that opportunities to play boccia were limited and I didn’t play again for several years. Whilst at university I went to Sheffield to support a friend who was competing in the English National Boccia Championships. Seeing how well run and how competitive the matches were, I was keen to take up boccia again.

After graduating from university, I searched for boccia clubs and found one that was local to me called Camboccia. I joined the club and I really enjoyed playing in the local league matches. I have a competitive nature and was eager to enter some regional tournaments and after some success managed to qualify for the National Championships.

Tell us about your progress and joining the Boccia UK World Class Programme…

After a few years of playing, I was invited to join Boccia England’s talent programme. After two years, I was selected for the Lions Squad, which was a reserve team for the England Boccia Squad. In November 2014 I was selected to represent England at an International Competition in Poland, which was a very proud moment for me. Whilst I didn’t get past the group stages, the experience was still a huge benefit to my boccia career.

In December 2014, I had the chance to attend an assessment day for the Great Britain Boccia squad. I came away from the day feeling that I’d given a good account of myself. The feedback that I got was positive and I was given the opportunity to join the World Class Programme. I feel privileged every time I put on my Boccia UK kit.

Will Hipwell will represent Paralympics GB at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games this summer.

Which of your achievements are you most proud of and why?

Winning Gold in the BC1/BC2 Team competition at the Boccia Regional Open in the Czech Republic. I liked the way we all worked so well as a team to achieve our goal. As a squad, GB won all seven gold medals available across the different classifications! It was fantastic to be part of it and the party afterwards was a lot of fun!

What is your advice for someone starting out in the sport?

Find a local club and see if you like it. I would recommend purchasing your own Boccia set; this will enable you to improve shot consistency. Don’t rush your shots.

What do people need to excel in the sport?

Patience, perseverance and accuracy.

So tell us about lockdown? Where did you train?

My dad is a farmer and during lockdown he converted his grain store into a Boccia court so I could continue to train while the leisure centre was closed!

Outside of boccia, what do you enjoy doing?

In my free time I enjoy watching football. I support Cambridge United and have a season ticket so I try to attend most of their home matches. I love going to stand-up comedy shows; my favourite comedians are Stephen K Amos, Peter Kay, Micky Flanagan, John Bishop and Josh Widdicombe.

I also enjoy live music gigs; my favourite bands are Jimmy Eat World, London Grammar and Chvrches.

What are you looking forward to most about Tokyo?

The chance to be part of such a big event and to play against the world’s best players.

Tell us something that not many people know about you…

I once met Stephen Hawking at the cinema!

Read more about the GB Boccia Squad. If you have been inspired to play boccia, take a look at our Athlete Recruitment.