Teen boccia world number one targets Paralympics
BBCA boccia player from the University of Sussex says it "doesn't feel real" after becoming the world number one in the sport.
Sophie Newnham, 18, from Surbiton in south-west London, competes in the BC4 Female category of the sport, the classification for athletes who have non-cerebral or severe locomotor dysfunction in all four limbs.
She started the sport at the age of 14 but missed out on the 2024 Paralympics in Paris as she was too young by just 11 days.
She said it made her "more determined", adding: "If I go to the LA Paralympics, that would be a dream come true, there's a photo of me when I was 8 or 9 holding up a board saying I want to be a Paralympian."
Increased confidence
Born with muscular dystrophy, she said the sport has been vital in helping her stay active.
"It was fair to say I was quite a different person before boccia," she said. "It's increased my social confidence.
"I was introverted before, it's helped me come out of my shell and it's almost like physio to keep my body moving.
"With muscular dystrophy, they say if you don't use it, you lose it, so this has kept the intensity right for me."
Experienced head to help
Newnham is in her first year of studying for an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance at the University of Sussex.
"My final year does clash with the LA Paralympics - 2028 could be a stressful year", she said.
"I did the European Championships just after my A-Levels, so hopefully I can replicate that."
Louis Saunders grew up in Bognor Regis and competed at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo and has been training with Newnham.
"I remember seeing her at a local boccia competition and we knew she'd be good.
"She's really changed the game in the UK, bringing in shots with her left hand, using different strategies that we are all using," Saunders said.
"I can't wait to see her fly, hopefully get to LA and show the world what she can do."
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