Paralympic boccia champion Steph McGuire has crowned his glittering golden year by being appointed MBE in the King’s new year honours list.
The Hamilton hero, who struck gold at the Paris Games in September, received the royal recognition for services to his sport and to young people – and says the honour caps the “most incredible year” of his two-decade sporting career.
He called it a “massive surprise and honour” and was excited to share the good news with his family and boccia colleagues after a month of keeping the secret of his recognition and forthcoming trip to the palace following his hugely popular win which was widely celebrated across his hometown and Scottish sport.
Steph told the Hamilton Advertiser: “This has been the most sensational year and to get the MBE at the very end of it is amazing recognition.
“It’s a really proud moment for me and my family and I’ve been really looking forward to sharing the news with all of them, and it’s massive for boccia – there’s no bigger privilege than to compete and to deliver a medal in Paris was a dream and made this an unforgettable year.
“The news is still sinking in! I have so many people to thank who made this possible – my family for their support and allowing me to chase a dream of becoming Paralympic champion, my team mates and coaches who push me every day in training, and everybody connected with Scottish Disability Sport, Boccia UK and Paralympics GB.”
Boccia star Steph brought home the cherished gold from his fourth Paralympics – having previously finished fourth on three occasions at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – winning the BC4 final at the South Paris arena with a thrilling 8-5 win over Colombian opponent Edilson Chica Chica.
It completed his impressive boccia medal collection after 20 years in the sport and returned him to the world No 1 spot; and the win was all the more remarkable as his place in the Paralympics GB team was only confirmed two months before the games following an injury-hit year.
He was cheered on in Paris by relatives and friends from his sporting career, and back home by hundreds of supporters, residents, community representatives and businesses in his hometown, with congratulatory messages rolling in on social media as well as from figures including first minister John Swinney, local MSPs, South Lanarkshire provost Margaret Cooper and sporting organisations.
Steph said of receiving his surprise MBE news: “I got the letter through in early December, just before going to a training camp; it was great but I wasn’t able to speak about it with my team mates or coaches, or of course with my family for all this time, so I’ve been looking forward to telling them.
“I want to thank my family and friends, coaches and team mates over the 20 years as every single person has played a huge part in pushing me every day and allowing me to be the best version of myself, and everyone in Hamilton has always supported me and my brother.
“This isn’t just for me but for everybody who’s supported me on my journey of 20 years’ hard work. It’s brilliant for boccia to be recognised and it’s a privilege to play a part in that, and it’s massive too for para sport, Scottish disability sport and everyone who’s supported and helped me to the Paralympic games – it’s wonderful.”
His MBE citation highlights that his honour is for services both to his sport and to young people, as he is both involved in boccia coaching and is a long-time ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy UK, most recently helping to represent the charity at parliament in November.
He said: “My two biggest passions are para sport, and supporting muscular dystrophy and raising awareness about muscular conditions; and to be given the platform to do that is great.
“I’m a level two boccia coach and do some coaching work with the next generation; and I work to raise the profile for Muscular Dystrophy UK as my brother and I both have the condition so it’s close to our family’s hearts, and if I can help people and highlight their cases, making sure they’re heard, I’ll certainly do that.”
Steph will now have a royal appointment in 2025 as he attends an investiture ceremony, and added: “It will be a proud day for me and my family, and I can’t wait to share it with them.”
He has met both the King and Princess Royal since returning home from the Paralympics as a gold medallist, attending receptions at Buckingham Palace and Downing Street as well as receiving the prestigious Eric Liddell award and being named para athlete of the year at the Scottish sports awards.
The Hamilton hero was also in the spotlight at the Paralympics GB homecoming celebration; and closer to home, has been celebrated by South Lanarkshire Council and by New College Lanarkshire, where he has been made a fellow with officials calling him “one of Scotland’s most distinguished athletes” and praising his “resilience, dedication, and strategic brilliance in the sport of boccia”.
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