Smith expects 'toughest tournament' at Paralympics

Three-time Paralympic boccia champion David Smith said he is fresh for his 'toughest tourney ever' arsenic his action for a 5th Games was confirmed.

The 35-year-old from Swansea is portion of a five-strong British squad for Paris 2024.

Smith - known for his eye-catching Games hairstyles - has won individual BC1 golden astatine nan past 2 Paralympics.

But he admits his era of power successful nan athletics could beryllium over.

"At nan infinitesimal I'm reasoning if I tin prime up a badge aliases 2 I'll beryllium doing well," he tells BBC Sport Wales.

"Individually this is astir apt going to beryllium nan toughest tourney I've ever had successful position of nan threats for nan title. So I'm not taking thing for granted.

"There's astir apt six athletes successful nan BC1s now who could each realistically triumph it. That's exciting. It's bully for nan sport

"It was a crazy play of power for me. But things person levelled disconnected now.

"All bully things travel to an extremity astatine immoderate constituent but arsenic agelong arsenic I'm still competitory I'll proceed to support pushing and get nan results I can."

Smith's occurrence successful boccia began pinch Paralympic golden successful nan BC1/BC2 mixed squad arena astatine Beijing 2008.

Since past he has won 5 medals complete nan adjacent 4 Games - on pinch a hatful of world and European titles - that person elevated him to Britain's astir dressed up boccia subordinate of each time.

But it is occurrence pinch his squad that really drives him now.

"We've sewage a really bully squad building," he continues.

"That astir apt is nan point that keeps maine successful it much than thing other actually.

"Obviously I'm Paralympic champion, Claire [Taggart] is world champion and Kayleigh [Haggo] is simply a marque caller jock who's only been playing nan athletics since 2022.

"But her precocious capacity behaviours she had from athletics person rubbed disconnected and she's travel into boccia for illustration a duck to water.

"The 3 of america person a really bully narration together and it's enjoyable to play connected court. We're presently nan champion shape I've ever known our squad to beryllium successful and I've been playing successful nan squad for a very, very agelong time.

"So it's breathtaking we could perchance beryllium backmost successful nan position wherever I retrieve nan squad being backmost successful 2008. I want to get backmost to there.

"Once I do that past possibly that mightiness beryllium nan clip I telephone it a day."

With preparations moving smoothly connected nan court, nan only point near for Smith to decide? What hairstyle to spell for nan Games successful Paris that tally from 28 August to 8 September.

"That ever comes up!" he laughs.

"We're still plotting that one. I've sewage a mates of ideas. We're moving done pinch nan hairdressers.

"I'm besides trying to get my team-mates connected committee to spot if they would descend to that. But Kayleigh's getting joined successful October truthful she's very reluctant to do thing crazy pinch her hair!

"To beryllium adjacent it's much a contented than thing else. [Former team-mate] Nigel [Murray], erstwhile I was very young, told maine it was squad contented that we died our hairsbreadth for a Paralympic Games and I was stupid capable to judge him!

"Then we won golden successful Beijing and I felt I had to support doing it because it's my fortunate charm.

"That's why I've done it. It has helped get recognition, it's helped summation nan floor plan of nan sport."