Rising stars shine on Défi Sportif stage
Joe Philpott kicks his shot at the 2026 Défi Sportif National Boccia Open
Photo Credit: Antoine Saito, Défi Sportif AlterGo
MONTREAL, QC (April 28, 2026) – The first national boccia event of the 2026 season concluded in Montreal, showcasing a strong field of Canada’s top athletes from coast to coast. Emerging Espoir athletes and seasoned National Team members delivered competitive performances, with several standout results across classifications.
Canada’s Espoir team demonstrated promising depth. In the BC1 category, Joe Philpott advanced to the semi-finals before falling to National Team member Kyle Scott. Philpott rebounded to secure the bronze medal with a decisive win over veteran athlete Chris Halpen. Fellow Espoir athletes Liza Puri and Carter Plumb faced challenging pool play and were unable to advance to the playoff round.
Across all classifications, both emerging and veteran athletes reached the podium:
- National Team newcomer Kyle Scott captured gold in the BC1 category, sharing the podium with Philpott
- Olivier Roy earned silver in the BC2 category
- Joshua Gautier, also a new National Team member, secured gold in BC3 following a narrow 6–5 victory over Alexandre Raymond
- Marco Dispaltro claimed gold after a round-robin draw with Iulian Ciobanu, with the title decided through official tie-break procedures
The competition in Montreal highlighted the strength and progression of boccia in Canada, with experienced athletes maintaining a high standard while the next generation continues to emerge.
Scott relishes the opportunity to improve his skills. “I have been training with a clear focus on developing both physically and mentally to compete at my highest level. That preparation paid off at the 2026 Défi Sportif AlterGo National Open, where I was able to execute my skills, and capture my first gold medal at Défi. I approach every competition as a chance to grow. I embrace the challenges, learn from my competitors, and use each match as an opportunity to improve. This result is an important step forward, and I’m committed to building my potential as I continue pushing toward the next level.”
High Performance Director Mario Delisle adds, “As the first major event of the year, the national Boccia competition at Défi Sportif 2026 gave us the opportunity to return to competition with several of our up-and-coming athletes. Having been training since January, the athletes, partners, and coaches were ready, and their performances lived up to expectations. In June, several of those athletes will be in Birmingham, Alabama for a Challenger tournament – an important step in their development.”
Attention now turns to the World Cup, where Montreal will host top international talent between April 28 to May 3.
Follow Boccia Canada on Facebook here for all relevant information and news.
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.
-30-
Media Contact
Zoe Meil-Charbonneau
National Program Coordinator
[email protected]