David Smith

David John Smith (born 2 March 1989) is a British Paralympic athlete in the sport of boccia. Smith is the most successful British boccia athlete with 5 Paralympic medals, including 3 gold medals.

Smith made his Paralympic debut in the British boccia team which won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. He competed for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, winning Bronze in the Team BC1–2 and Silver in the BC1 individual event. Smith competed for the British Paralympic Association at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, winning Gold in the individual BC1 event for the first time. Smith became only the second BC1 to defend his title at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. He was selected to carry his country's flag in the 2020 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony. Smith held the 'triple crown' of major tournament wins, following his win at the World Championships in Liverpool 2018 until the World Championships in Rio 2022 where he claimed Silver. At the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, Smith narrowly missed out on adding to his tally, finishing 4th individually and 5th in the mix team.

Early life Smith was born on 2 March 1989 in Eastleigh near Southampton, Hampshire.

Education School Smith was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age one and went to a developmental centre in Winchester for disabled children. He went to Cedar School, Southampton for special needs children at age three. Smith first played boccia at age six at Cedar School when the school competed at the national junior games in Stoke Mandeville.

At age eleven, Smith enrolled in Treloar School near Alton, Hampshire, He came 4th in the individual Boccia and 5th in the Mixed team, alongside Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo in the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Domestic boccia Smith has remained unbeaten at the annual English Nationals and GB Championships since 2004, clocking up a record of 20 British and 11 National titles. In 2016, Smith retired from the English Nationals to focus on his international career.

Personal life Smith lives and trains full-time in Swansea.

Television appearances Smith has made two appearances on The Last Leg, where he has performed his trademark "doughnut" in his wheelchair.

Honours and awards Smith was given the Freedom of the Borough of Eastleigh in 2013. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours, both for services to boccia.