Teenage Paralympian from Wiltshire heads to Paris with Team GB

A teenage bocce athlete selected for the 2024 Paralympics says the news has “not sunk in yet”, describing the opportunity as “once in a lifetime”.

Sally Kidson, 19, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, has qualified for the Paris Paralympics alongside other members of Team GB.

She describes bocce ball as an activity anyone can get involved in, but says it’s “such a shame” it’s not more widely known, despite it being one of the fastest-growing disability sports in the world. world.

Boccia was originally designed for people with cerebral palsy and is now played by people with a wide range of disabilities, adding to its global popularity.

It is described as a precision sport where players aim to push the colored balls as close as possible to the white ball, also known as the Jack.

Sally says she recognizes that few people get an opportunity “like this” to compete in the Paralympics and said it was “absolutely crazy” to think she would be a part of it.

“I’m so grateful for everything,” she added. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I think it might when I’m on the train there or in the village?”.

Sally said that if someone had asked her 10 years ago if she would enjoy playing a sport, she would have said she would have ‘loved it’ but she wouldn’t have had the confidence she would have “it can be physical”.

She said: “Without sounding too cliche, Boccia really is a sport that everyone can do.”

Sally added: “For me, I think it’s really important to show other disabled children that no matter how severe their condition is, there is a sport they can do and be at their peak without being too physically able. .”