ALTON College student Tia Ruel is hoping to head to Tokyo 2020 as a Team GB Paralympian.

Tia (18), studies sport at college and hopes to become a full-time boccia player when she completes her studies having played the sport for ten years, three days a week.

Boccia itself is a bowls-related sport, played by athletes with severe physical disabilities.

She said: “I am enjoying my time at college with lots of friends and helpful staff and am looking forward to finishing my studies and being able to play boccia all the time.”

Tia trains in Maidenhead thanks to the charity SportsAble, who recently exhibited their work to the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, involving Tia demonstrating boccia.

“I live, breathe, eat, sleep and dream boccia, and everyone at Alton College has been very supportive in helping me study round my training,” said the student.

Tia, formally a pupil at Treloar’s School is already a member of the England Lions Squad who occasionally compete internationally. If successful in her ambition, Tia will follow in the footsteps of Paralympian and gold medallist David Smith, also an Alton College and Treloar’s School alumnus.