Interview with Boccia Athlete Stephen McGuire
Sport: Boccia
Born: 18/08/84
Lives: Hamilton, Scotland
Stephen took up boccia about two years ago. He competed at the 2006 Boccia World Championships finishing 19th in the individual competition and 7th in the pairs event. At the 2005 European Championships he finished 21st. Stephen’s brother Peter also plays Boccia and the brothers compete together in pair competitions. He has a degree in Retail and Business Management from Glasgow and Caledonian University.
Interview Transcript
Stephen McGuire and Boccia is my sport
Q How did you get into your sport?
A It was basically when I left high school there was no opportunities for a disabled wheeler to get into sport, and I just searched the web and came accross the Scottish Disability Sport web site and it was from there that I got into Boccia.
Q What do you enjoy most about it?
A I enjoy the competing and the taking part really and I've always been a competitive person so the winning, I enjoy the winning.
Q What does a typical day involve?
A Boccia wise - is getting up early, make sure you have a healthy meal to begin with to keep your energy going and then usually training for about two hours and then a bit of rest, you need to rest for about three hours after that, and then a little exercising.
Q How do you relax when you are not competing or training?
A Mainly through playing the computer or listening to music or watching TV.
Q What do you hope to achieve in your sport in the future?
A I'd like to retain the British title again and hopefully qualify for Beijing and go from there, hopefully a medal at an international event.
Q What would you say to somebody who wants to take up the sport?
A I'd say go for it. I think there are some great opportunities out there especially because Boccia is not as main stream as other sports and the opportunities are just as vast so go for it.
Q What have you got out of this trip to Hong Kong?
A Its been really good just even the intense sessions of training have been good, just getting involved and getting team spirit and morale up its been dead exciting, its good.
