A 17-year-old athlete from Surbiton, who missed qualifying for the Paris Paralympics by a mere 11 days due to her age, has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the world number one in the sport of boccia.
Metoric Rise to the Top
Sophie Newnham's ascent up the global rankings is described by Boccia UK as one of the fastest ever witnessed in the sport. Her stellar year, which has seen her medal at every tournament she entered, has now earned her a place on the shortlist for the UK Sport PLX Awards. The ceremony, which includes the Athlete Award for the biggest turnaround or breakthrough, takes place today, December 2.
Sophie's journey began in PE lessons at Treloar's School. She quickly progressed to competition, securing a silver medal at her first UK Championships. Her senior debut came just 18 months ago in Zagreb, and she has since taken the international circuit by storm.
A Golden Year of Achievement
The teenager's recent triumph at the Coimbra World Cup encapsulates her incredible form. She clinched gold in the individual BC4 women's event and added a second gold in the Pairs event alongside teammate Stephen McGuire MBE, a Paralympic gold medallist from 2024. This success helped propel her from world number nine at the start of the year to the coveted top spot.
"I'm really pleased to end the year as world number one," Sophie said. "It's putting me in a strong position ahead of next year." She also highlighted her successful partnership with McGuire, with whom she finishes the year ranked third in the world as a pair, as they prepare for the World Championships in Seoul.
Balancing Sport, Study and Family
Sophie's accomplishments extend beyond the boccia court. She has managed her rigorous training and competition schedule while studying for A-Levels and starting university a year early. Her mother, Kathryn, notes that the experience is a family affair, made more meaningful as Sophie's brother, Jamie, acts as her coach.
"She is fuelled by this great travelling adventure with tournaments all over the world," Kathryn said. "It feels like a family journey, and we're delighted to be along for the ride."
Greg Baker, performance director at Boccia UK, praised Sophie's level-headed attitude and tactical prowess. "She has certainly earned her world number one spot, bursting onto the international circuit as a senior and defeating established, highly ranked players," he said.
Sophie, who is supported by the Boccia UK World Class Programme and receives National Lottery funding from UK Sport, is now firmly setting her sights on the LA Paralympic Games in 2028. She also receives backing from the charity Get Kids Going!, which supports disabled children and young people in sport.
