Sonia Heckel

Started: She was introduced to Para sport in 2002, and trained in shooting Para sport for five years before switching to boccia in 2007. She began training seriously in boccia in 2009. (lessportives.fr, 31 May 2023; francetvinfo.fr, 21 Aug 2021) Reason: "At first, I chose this sport because there are not a lot of sports for people with severe impairments like mine. But then I began to like it because it is a sport of strategy and construction of play. In every game, every throw is different." (bleushandisport.com, 27 Aug 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (lalsace.fr, 20 Apr 2023) Milestones: In 2021 she became the first female boccia player to represent France at the Paralympic Games when she competed in the BC3 mixed pairs event at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (SportsDeskOnline, 03 Jan 2023) Awards: She was flag bearer for France at the 2009 European Championships in Portugal. (ludres.handisport.free.fr, 01 Jan 2014) Additional Info: OCCUPATION She has worked as an accounting secretary for the Vandoeuvre Nancy volleyball team in France. (LinkedIn profile, 02 Jan 2024; lalsace.fr, 20 Apr 2023; bleushandisport.com, 27 Aug 2019)

Sporting Relatives: Her twin sister Anais has competed in Para archery and has been crowned French champion. (infodujour.fr, 22 Mar 2019; estrepublicain.fr, 08 Nov 2019)