Stephen McGuire might only have one last crack at a Paralympics medal, and says the competition is fiercer than ever.
Although selection isn’t until May, the Hamilton boccia player is likely to take part in BC4 singles and pairs in Tokyo, and says he reckons this might be one of the best Games yet.
Stephen, who has three competitions in Croatia, Canada and Portugal before heading to Tokyo, says he can’t wait to make a third attempt at securing the only competition medal he hasn’t yet succeeded in.
He said: “It’s very exciting, the lead-up to a Paralympic year is always good – everyone’s jostling for ranking positions and seeding slots.
“Tokyo 2020 is looking good so far. We’ve qualified all our slots and in May this year we will have selection so we will probably find out not long after that.
“I think Tokyo will run a very good Paralympics. London 2012 sort of set the bench-mark, and Tokyo would like to emulate that or go one better, so that’s pretty exciting.
“I haven’t won a Paralympics medal, so I’ll give it a go. I came fourth in the last couple of Paralympics, so I’d love to go one further and grab a medal.
“The Paralympics is something else, it’s out of this world. My brother Peter [also a boccia player] once described it as ‘a prison that you don’t want to leave’... it’s fantastic.
“I love everything about a Paralympics. You’re being part of a bigger set-up. When we travel the world we go as a boccia squad, but when you’re there you’re part of Paralympics GB.
“Your team-mates are from athletics, swimming or table tennis, and you become one of many, but at the same time you’re all supporting each other – it’s such a fantastic environment to be part of.
“It would be the icing on the cake if I managed to get a Paralympics medal, and it would be a great way to, I suppose, bow out of the Paralympics side of things – but if not, you never know.
“It will be my 16th year competing in boccia, so I’m the eldest member of the squad, but if it’s my last Paralympic Games then I’ve had a great time, really enjoyed it.”
Stephen was recently at Loughbrough University on a coaching course, and he says that aspect is simply a natural progression.
“Boccia is something I love, it’s something I know. I can share my knowledge, and that’s key,” said Stephen. “If I can give a little bit of that back and encourage someone else to take up the sport then I’ll be delighted.”
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