Olivier Roy Takes Home Bronze Medal at His First International Competition Ever
Olivier Roy shows off his bronze medal from the inaugural World Boccia Youth Championships
Ottawa, ON (July 13, 2023) – Olivier Roy (Québec City, QC) made an impressive debut in his first international boccia competition, winning bronze in the individual BC2 event at the 2023 World Boccia Youth Championships in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal. Carter Plumb (Brampton, ON) and Nico Iemma (Oshawa, ON) made up the rest of the Canadian team in Povoa and competed in the BC3 class.
Roy has had recent success at the national level, taking home gold from the 2023 Défi Sportif AlterGo National Open in April, but said nothing compares to his first taste of international success. “As it was my first international medal, it was even more emotional. It’s another milestone in my career.”
After a strong performance in pool play, Roy faced Chun Hin Cheung from Hong Kong in the bronze medal match. The turning point came with Roy’s third ball in the last end of the bronze medal match. Roy had a slim 3 to 2 lead when he pushed Cheung’s ball out of the way to land on the jack in a perfect ricochet shot. Cheung threw all of his remaining balls but could not get past Roy.
It was an amazing moment for the ecstatic Roy and his performance partner Véronique Messier, who is also Roy’s physical education teacher.
She is proud of how far Roy has come. “I’ve known Olivier since he was five years old. I’m super proud of him. He handled the pressure well against some pretty tough competitors, and to think, I saw him throw his first boccia balls in my class!”
Fourteen-year-old Plumb won his first individual game against Simon Mizera from Slovakia in the individual BC3 event and the BC3 Pair of Plumb and Iemma won their first BC3 Pairs game against France. With no other wins, they did not advance to the medal round. Still, the duo gained valuable experience at their first international boccia event.
“It was important for us to compete at our first ever World Boccia Youth Championships with the youth group and the experience was great for the athletes. I’m very happy with this group and Olivier’s first international podium,” said Mario Delisle, High Performance Director, Boccia Canada.
To rewatch all the games in Povoa check out the webcast here.
Find all the results from the competition here.
For all pictures of the athletes visit our Facebook page here.
About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. We lead, develop and grow boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3 BC4, BC5, and Open.
Media Contact
Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator, Boccia Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 613-748-1430 x3 | Cell: 514-944-5193