Boccia legend David Smith joked to journalists, “If I didn’t laugh, I would cry,” after missing out on a medal in the men’s individual BC1 competition.
In Paris, he tried to repeat his two Paralympic gold medals in the solo event.
However, a surprising semifinal loss to Jung Sungjoon of South Korea and a 5-3 loss to Paralympic debutant Muhamad Syafa of Indonesia on 1 September meant he missed the podium for the first time since Beijing 2008.
I thought I would lose, but it was a semifinal I should have won," said the British star, who competed with his Tokyo 2020 blue and red hair.
On another day, I would have won the semifinal easily.
First Paris 2024 boccia medals awarded on 1 September. Smith said he didn't think about medals at his fifth Paralympics, knowing success would follow if he played well.
Because “I’ve done it” throughout his remarkable career, he didn’t feel the pressure as defending champion.
Yet he claims the sport has advanced greatly in recent years.