Stephen McGuire

Stephen defeated Colombia’s Edilson Chica 8-5 to win the Gold medal in the BC4 men’s individual title at the South Paris Arena. The 40-year-old was a late addition to the British squad for Paris 2024, having had to recover from a broken leg and knee sustained in a fall at his home in 2022.

Following the accident, he was bedbound for a lengthy period and says it took him “about 18 months to prove to myself that I could be competitive again”. It is McGuire’s first Paralympic medal at his fourth Games, having previously finished fourth in three competitions at the event

Stephen’s passion growing up was watching the Paralympics and his dream was to one day compete at a Games. It was with the support of Scottish Disability Sport that he got started; they pointed him in the right direction in sport and he found that boccia was a perfect fit. He met two coaches in Jacqueline Lynn and Jim Thomson, who both encouraged him and taught him the game back in 2005 and he’s been playing ever since.

Domestically, he’s won nine British titles and seven Scottish titles. Before making his Paralympic debut at London 2012 alongside his brother Peter, Stephen was European Champion in 2009 (BC4 pairs), double World silver medallist in 2010 (individual and pairs) and European silver medallist in 2011 (individual).

His previous career highlight was at the 2016 World Championships in Beijing when he became World Champion in individual competition to better his silver medal from 2010.

In 2022, he overcame serious injury. Breaking his knee and femur at the start of the year, he underwent major surgery. Committing himself to rehabilitation, he earned himself a place in the 2022 World Championships squad in Rio in December.

The following year, Stephen was selected for the European Para Championships in Rotterdam where he won a bronze medal individually and also a silver medal as part of the BC4 Pairs with Fiona Muirhead.

Away from Boccia Stephen is honoured to be an ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy UK, using his profile as an athlete to raise awareness of Muscular Dystrophy.

A keen football supporter, Stephen is a huge fan of Glasgow Celtic and has been a season ticket holder for over 10 years.

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

• Individual BC4: Gold

2016 BISFed World Individual Championships, Beijing, China

• Individual BC4: Gold