Hidetaka Sugimura

Started: He began playing boccia in 2001 at Shizuoka Medical Welfare Centre in Japan. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2024, 14 Aug 2012; e-atami.net, 03 Nov 2014) Reason: He was encouraged to take up the sport by a teacher at his support facility for people with an impairment. "I enjoy both watching and playing sports. After graduating from high school, I wanted to continue having opportunities to stay active, and I felt that this sport allowed me to express myself." (Athlete, 28 Aug 2024, 14 Aug 2012) Ambition: To defend his gold medal in the BC2 individual event and win gold in the team event at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2024) Milestones: At the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo he became the first Japanese boccia player to win a Paralympic gold medal in the sport, when he triumphed in the BC2 open individual event. His BC1-2 mixed team bronze in Tokyo also saw him become the first Japanese boccia player to win three career Paralympic medals in the sport. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2024) Awards: In 2016 he was given the Ito Special Award in Japan. (izu-np.co.jp, 09 Nov 2016) In 2012 he received a Sports Honorary Award in Ito, Japan. (shizuoka.jp, 12 Oct 2012)