Claire Taggart Defeated in Boccia Bronze Match

Claire Taggart, a 29-year-old boccia competitor from Larne, faced disappointment at the Paris Paralympics after losing in the bronze medal match against Indonesia's Gischa Zayana, finishing with a score of 5-2. Earlier in the day, Taggart had also been defeated in the semi-finals by South Korea's Soyeong Jeong with a close score of 3-2. Despite her previous successes, including two gold medals at the 2022 Boccia World Cup, Taggart expressed feelings of devastation and uncertainty about her future in the sport. She acknowledged the support from her community and friends but emphasized her need to take a break to consider her next steps. Looking ahead, Taggart will compete in the BC1/2 Team competition with teammates Kayleigh Haggo and David Smith OBE. This series of setbacks has left her reflecting on her performance and future in boccia.