Boccia, a sport where strategy and precision prevail

It is a sport that does not exist for able-bodied people. If we had to find an equivalent to boccia, we could think of a mix between pétanque and curling. “But there is also a lot of strategy, like in chess, says Marie-Pierre Leblanc, head of performance for the French team. To win, you must be a few steps ahead of your opponent. »

The origins of boccia, an Italian term meaning “ball”, date back to Greco-Roman times. Today it is played on a 12.5 by 6 metre field by wheelchair users whose disabilities affect motor or brain functions.

In this game, everyone has six red or blue balls at the start of each round and must roll them as close as possible to a white ball called a “jack,” the equivalent of the jack in pétanque. Each ball of the same color placed closest to the “jack” scores a point. The winner is the one who scores the most.

“Leather balls are more or less hard, explains Marie-Pierre Leblanc. Strategy also lies in your choice before each shot. A good player must be able to score points by defending. » Stamina and concentration are also required: a team match can last an hour and a half, about half as long as an individual match.

“The brain is in constant demand”

Introduced at the 1984 Paralympic Games in New York and Stoke Mandeville (England), boccia is practiced by 3,600 people in France, including 700 in competition. In Paris, the French delegation will be made up of five athletes, divided into four categories. Sonia Heckel, 35, will be one of them. Classified as BC3 – the highest handicap – she will be assisted by Florent Brachet, who accompanies her in her daily life.

European champion in 2023 in Rotterdam (Netherlands) individually and current world number one, the woman who discovered sport for the disabled at the end of high school has suffered since birth from a genetic disease, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which is characterized by progressive muscular weakness in the pelvis and shoulders. “I walked until I was 12, she explains. I am in an electric wheelchair because I cannot use my arms. Boccia allows me to have an activity outside my home and gives me a social connection. I like the strategic side: it is very mental, the brain is constantly engaged. »

The rules of the game specify that only the athlete can throw the ball. Some players place a wand (or rod) on their forehead and trigger the launch of their ball with a nod of the head in front of the ramp. They are nicknamed “unicorns.” Sonia Heckel has opted for a loaf of bread that she puts in her mouth. “The ball is placed on a block and, with my wand, I push it to throw it, she explains. It’s actually a fly swatter with the end cut off. If the ball is high, I use a slightly modified fishing rod…”

The assistant may not speak or turn to the game before the end of a round, under penalty of receiving a penalty. “Before each dance, I must tell Florent [Brachet] the direction of the ramp I want and the height of the ball that will be placed using extensions, explains Sonia Heckel. He is the one who does all the manipulations. He is my hands. »

A two-step goal

Sonia Heckel, a former accounting secretary, left her job to devote herself to her sport. She trains six hours a week, in addition to mental preparation and video analysis. Her dream? To win an Olympic medal: “Sixteen of us have won our place to participate in the Games. There is going to be war!”

In teams, the task promises to be complicated. “France has only been participating in international competitions since 2009, recalls Marie-Pierre Leblanc. Against teams from South Korea, Thailand or Hong Kong, we will not be the favourites. » Samuel Pacheco, coach of the French national team, defined a goal in two steps: “First we will get out of the group stage and then we will win a medal.”

Aurélie Aubert, who has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, is the captain of this team. At the age of 27, she discovered boccia by chance thanks to Marie-Pierre Leblanc. She throws her own balls, but is helped by Claudine Llop, 66, whose role is “steer your chair and follow all your instructions.”

The proximity of the event and its global dimension do not scare this “ambitious”, as she describes herself. “Aurélie has a very natural leadership, believes Samuel Pacheco. When her teammates give up, she knows how to find the right words to motivate them again and lead them to victory. »

As part of their preparation for the Games, the French team trained in a noisy hall in order to recreate the conditions that await them from 29 August to 5 September at the Paris Sud Arena, at the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, Paris. “I like it when there is atmosphere and noise, even if it requires more concentration, says Aurélie Aubert. We will also be playing in front of our loved ones and that will give us even more strength. »