Swansea Engineering student wins historic double Boccia gold

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Swansea University Aerospace Engineering student and paralympic champion Boccia player David Smith has recently returned from the European Boccia Championships in Guimiraes Portugal with a precious cargo of two gold medals.

David Smith

David won the Team and Individual gold medals at the Championships and is the first British Boccia player to achieve this. This historic double means that David maintains his world ranking as joint number 1. 

David, who comes from Eastleigh in Hampshire, is currently based at Swansea University. He has just finished his 3rd year and starting his 4th studying Aerospace Engineering MEng. David has a particular interest in World War II aircraft.

  • David learnt how to play Boccia at Treloars College in Hampshire. Aged 14, he became the youngest ever player to secure the title of British Champion and he was crowned World Champion at the age of 18. 
  • David was on the British boccia team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. He competed for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Paralympics[1] and did so winning Bronze in the Team BC1–2.[2] and Silver in the BC1 individual event watched by a packed arena. In addition to the Paralympics he won double gold at the 2007 World Cup, Individual gold at 2009 European championships, individual gold at the 2011 Europa Cup, and was on the bronze winning team at the 2011 World Cup. He has cerebral palsy spastic quadrapledia and is in the BC1 class for Boccia.
  • In Individual competition, David’s achievements include winning the Individual BC1 gold medal at the 2011 Europa Cup in Hamar, Norway, the Individual BC1 gold medal at the 2009 European Championships in Porto, Portugal and the Individual BC1 gold medal at the 2007 World Cup in Vancouver, Canada. He has also remained unbeaten for seven years at English Nationals and GB Championships.
  • In Team events, David has won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Cup in Belfast, Northern Ireland, silver medal at the 2009 European Championships in Porto, Portugal, bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and first place at the 2007 World Cup, Vancouver, Canada.