Watcharaphon Vongsa

Watcharaphon Vongsa dominated the BC2 class at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by sweeping gold medals in both individual and team events.

Vongsa, born with cerebral palsy, was introduced to boccia at Sri Sangwan School in Khon Kaen, Thailand, at age 13. He studied computer science at a vocational school in Pattaya in 2009.

At London 2012, although he did not make the podium individually, he shared the joy of a gold medal with his compatriots, after beating China in the mixed team BC1-2 gold medal match.

Ahead of Rio 2016, he recalled two gold medals that he won in the individual BC2 and mixed BC1-2 at the 2014 BISFed Boccia World Championships as the most memorable achievement in his sporting career.

In Rio de Janeiro, he achieved the same accomplishment. In addition to defending the team title, he claimed his first individual Paralympic gold medal, after beating compatriot Worawut Saengampa.

Vongsa had lost to his teammate Saengampa in the final at the 2014 Asian Para-Games in Incheon, South Korea, a title he had won four years earlier in Guangzhou, China.