Will Arnott
British boccia player (1999–2024)
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Will Arnott (12 March 1999 – 9 December 2024) was a British Paralympian who made his Paralympic debut in boccia at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.[1]
United KingdomWill Arnott at European Boccia Championship, 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 March 1999 Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Died | 9 December 2024 (aged 25) Arborfield, England |
| Sport | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sport | Boccia |
| BC3 | |
Arnott was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of five.[2] He attended Treloar School.[2]
Arnott initially competed in the BC4 classification, but after surgery at the age of 15 was unable to throw anymore so switched to compete in the BC3 classification using a ramp.[2] He first represented the UK Boccia team at 2019 Zagreb Regional Open, where he won a silver medal alongside ramp assistant Connor Wellfare. The pair competed at the 2022 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro where they reached the quarter-finals, but were defeated by the Paralympic Champion Adam Peska of Czech Republic.[3]
In August 2023 he won silver at the European Para Championships in the men's individual competition.[4]
He secured a qualifying spot for the 2024 Paralympics by winning gold in the BC3 Pairs category at the qualifying tournament in Portugal alongside Sally Kidson in March 2024.[1] The pair lost their opening two games, 7–0 to Greece and 4–3 to Peru, but then beat the hosts 4-1 and Singapore 4–1 to reach the semi-finals where they defeated Poland 5–4. In the final they defeated Japan 4–2.[5]
Arnott died on 9 December 2024, at the age of 25,[6][7] while ranked world number 7 and GB number 1.