David Smith

Boccia

Region

Eastleigh, Hampshire
Date of Birth

02/03/1989
Classification

BC1 (comp. partner Misel Kranjcec)

Bio

David Smith is a double Paralympic champion after claiming successive gold medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He is also a multiple world and European champion as an individual and team member.

The Swansea resident, who is originally from Eastleigh, is known as a showman, donning different, colourful hairstyles, which is a trend that originated as a prank from one of his teammates when he made his Paralympic debut in 2008. It was in Beijing that he collected his first gold medal as part of the BC1-2 Team.

After losing his first BC1 individual final at London 2012, David rallied back to the top of the podium, sporting a blue mohawk hairstyle, by besting the Netherlands’ Daniel Perez with a shutout 5-0 victory in Rio.

In Tokyo, with a mix of red and blue hair, he returned from 2-0 down to snatch the gold with a 4-2 triumph over Malaysia’s Chew Wei Lun. For his efforts, he was named as ParalympicsGB’s flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony.

David was awarded an OBE for services to Boccia in 2022. Away from Boccia, David volunteers as a marshal at his local Parkrun. He likens himself to seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, has a degree in Aerospace Engineering and has a passion for World War II aircrafts.

Major Results

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Individual BC1: Gold

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Individual BC1: Gold

London 2012 Paralympic Games

Individual BC1: Silver
BC1/BC2 Team: Bronze

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

BC1/BC2 Team: Gold

2019 BISFed European Championships, Portugal

Individual BC1: Gold
BC1/BC2 Team: Bronze

2018 BISFed World Championships, Liverpool, UK

Individual BC1: Gold

2017 BISFed European Championships, Portugal

Individual BC1: Gold

2016 BISFed Boccia Individual World Championships, Beijing, China

Individual BC1: Bronze

2015 BISFed Boccia European Championships Team and Pairs, Surrey, UK

BC1/BC2 Team: Gold

2014 BESFed Boccia World Championships, Beijing, China

Individual BC1: Gold

2013 BISFed European Championships Guimaraes, Portugal

Individual BC1: Gold
BC1/BC2 Team: Bronze

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