Last Updated on 04/09/2024 by Crip Life
Former frame runner and swimmer Kayleigh Haggo will make her Paralympic debut after an impressive season, which saw her win her first major international medal in Zagreb in April. She is one of three debutants heading to Paris and part of a seven-piece boccia squad for ParalympicsGB.
As part of our ParalympicsGB debutants interview series, our editor, Emma Purcell, speaks to Kayleigh Haggo about living with cerebral palsy, her switch from athletics to boccia, her sporting success so far and what she is most looking forward to at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Read: Will Arnott: From School Boccia Player To Paralympic Contender
Kayleigh Haggo will be making her Paralympic debut in Paris but she has been on the world stage for another sport before.
The Ayrshire athlete was the RR2 world record holder across all distances from 100m to 5000m in the track sport of frame running, winning a world title for British Athletics in Dubai at the 2019 World Championships and gold at the Para-athletics European Championships in Poland in 2021.
Unfortunately, frame running was unsuccessfully proposed for inclusion in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
This led to Kayleigh making the switch to Boccia in February 2022 and making her international debut in Poznan just six months later.
In 2024, Kayleigh secured her first-ever individual gold medal at an international level, winning the Lahti Challenger in Finland. And just days later, she was back on the podium collecting gold in the BC1/2 Team event with three-time Paralympic champion David Smith and reigning world champion Claire Taggart, both of whom will also be joining Kayleigh in Paris, along with returning Paralympic athletes Stephen McGuire and Patrick Wilson.
Fellow Paralympic debutants Will Arnott and teenager Sally Kidson also join the stellar squad and will line up in the BC3 Pairs event having won gold at the qualifying event in Portugal earlier this year.
This year will also be one of personal celebrations for Kayleigh as she is due to be married after the Paralympics to her fiancé Kevin, who will also be her competition assistant when she is on the boccia courts of Paris.
Read on to find out more about Kayleigh Haggo in her own words and scroll down to see her Paris 2024 results.
Kayleigh Haggo on living with cerebral palsy
How does your cerebral palsy affect you and what was it like growing up with a disability?
My cerebral palsy affects all four limbs. I use a wheelchair for day-to-day activities but I can walk a little bit with the support of help and holding onto things like furniture. It mostly affects my walking, speech and fine motor skills. I’m unable to tie shoelaces and put my hair up, that kind of thing. Apart from that it doesn’t really stop me from doing what I love to do.
Growing up as a child, I didn’t really know anyone else who had a disability. I was brought up by my mum and my grandmas and they made me as independent as I could be from when I was younger.
There was a moment that I remember when my cousin, who is a similar age to me, was going to ballet classes. I really wanted to go to ballet at a young age and I wanted to do what they were doing. I remember my mum saying to me that I could go to ballet classes if I learnt to stand.
At that time I couldn’t walk on my own independently and I couldn’t get up by myself from off the floor. But Mum said, “If you can learn to walk, then you can go to ballet classes.” And from that young age, it just gave me that determination that I wanted to do that.
I worked really hard on standing, walking and balancing. I was definitely brought up to be as independent as I could be and pushed but pushed in a good way. I think it’s really helped me as an adult now because I’ve been so used to finding ways to do things on my own.
During school, I went to a mainstream primary and academy school. Again, there wasn’t anyone else with cerebral palsy in my school. I didn’t have any friends with disabilities until I went to events and sports festivals with Ayrshire Sportsability and Scottish Disability Sport.
These events were the only time where I got to meet other people my age with similar disabilities. They were really nice actually because I was kind of in this wee bubble. I knew growing up that I had a disability but at the same time, it wasn’t something that I thought about all the time. I wasn’t treated any differently by my family, friends or anyone at school, which was really nice.
What kind of physio support did you receive that helped you manage a hip problem, which could’ve resulted in surgery and stalling your progress in boccia?
When I was younger, my mum was recommended surgery for my hips and she researched it and found that if I had the surgery, there was a high chance that I would be unable to walk afterwards.
So instead she got me horse riding lessons, which I did for a couple of years. I then went back to the hospital and got X-rayed again. It showed that me doing horse riding had a similar result as what surgery would’ve done, which I just think is amazing.
To do rehab and to do something sport-wise, it can almost do the same job as what surgery could do. It was just the best thing that mum could have done for me at that age. She was really against surgery and she wanted me to find different ways to help my body, and it really did help.
Then when I got older I started to get hip problems again and, although the horse riding did help, my balance as I got older wasn’t the best. So horse riding became quite tricky because I was going to a mainstream riding school rather than a riding school for the disabled, and I didn’t have many adaptations except the one-to-one sessions.
When I started playing boccia, I started to get pain again and the physios rehabbed me through it, which prevented me from having that same surgery. One thing I did was regular physio, focusing on my hips and legs.
Also, they changed my seating system in my wheelchair so that it helped take the pain off my hips and helped me sit much better with a better backrest and so it definitely helped.
Kayleigh Haggo on competing in frame running and boccia
How and when did you first get into frame running and go on to compete professionally?
When I was younger, my mum and my gran took me to a local track that had some frame runners for people to try out. I got on one and it was the first time that I was able to run independently, with the support of the frame, obviously. I just had total freedom and independence and I just didn’t want to get off. I just loved it so much.
I then went to my first international competition a year later and came home with four gold medals and four world records. At the age of 13, that was pretty young to be competing at that kind of level, but I just grew from there. From there, once or twice a week, I trained with Redstar Club in Glasgow, and as they say, the rest is history.
How did it feel finding out frame running would not be at the Paris Games, but if it was to feature at future Paralympics, would you consider competing again?
Yes, I was gutted. I made the comeback when it was announced that it was going to be a World Para Championship and I competed at the World Championships and European Championships But when I heard that it wasn’t going to be at the Paralympics, I was gutted because the lead up to the Paris sports selection, it was really positive and we really thought that everything was in place for it to become a Paralympic event and then all of a sudden they just cut it from the schedule. I was pretty devastated but then found boccia quite soon after. So I’m grateful for that.
I think the answer to your question about if I’d do it again if it became a Paralympic sport, I think I would definitely consider it. There have been a few changes regarding the classification system in frame running. I’m not as competitive now in the new classification. They’ve basically put two classifications together. So I would be competing against runners who are much more able, have better balance and many can walk unaided. It’s definitely much harder now for people who were in the RR2 classification. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens and whether I would still be competitive, and in frame running in the future.
Do you still compete in frame running in other competitions or just do it in your spare time?
So I did some frame running competitions last year in between boccia competitions but more so just locally. I haven’t done any this year just because I’ve been so busy with boccia, but I do still run a couple of times a week for fun and fitness.
You also had a brief spell competing in swimming. Did you ever consider competing as a swimmer at the Paralympics?
Yes, I did swimming for four years and I got to the British Swimming Transition Squad for a brief spell. I loved swimming, but I felt like I was giving it my all and I wasn’t really improving or getting better.
Even though I was training 10 times a week in the pool, I just wasn’t seeing much improvement and I wasn’t getting to where I wanted to be. I think that’s why I didn’t make it to Paralympic level, but I did really try my best and maybe it just wasn’t the sport for me.
What made you switch to boccia and how much knowledge and experience did you have of the sport before going professional?
So as soon as I knew frame running wouldn’t be at the Paralympics, I had to think to see if I wanted to try something else that could potentially get me to the Paralympic Games in the future. I knew about boccia but when I was younger I just didn’t enjoy it. I found it quite boring. I liked sports that were fast and high paced and boccia is the opposite of that. So I really didn’t enjoy it as a kid.
However, when I came across a boccia website and they were looking for female athletes two years ago and I was just thinking, “Oh, fill in the form and go and see what happens.” I definitely wasn’t expecting to be part of the GB team two years later. So it’s been quite a journey.
What have been your sporting career highlights so far in frame running and boccia?
I think in frame running probably winning gold in the World Championships over 100m because that meant that I have been European Champion and World Champion. In boccia, getting to the Paralympic Games is a massive achievement.
Can you tell us what it’s like being the co-chair of Ayrshire Sportsability Charity?
I went to the Ayrshire Sportsability sports events as a kid. They set up sporting events throughout the year for young people in schools to get them to try sports and meet new people.
I went from being a participant to a volunteer at the events. I then became a Trustee and now I’m co-chair for the charity. It definitely holds a special place in my heart because this charity is one of the reasons why I got involved in sports in the first place. So I like to give back and to see that my work and my help with the charity helps others and it gets others into para Sport.
Kayleigh Haggo on preparing for Paris 2024
How does it feel to be selected for your first Paralympic Games, after only two years of competing in boccia?
It feels amazing. Ever since I attended London 2012, my mum and I knew that I wanted to become a Paralympian. It’s been 13 years of hard work in the making but it’s been totally worth it and I’m looking forward to going to Paris and seeing what I can do.
How have your preparations been going for Paris 2024 and how does it feel to have your fiance Kevin as your competition assistant?
It’s been a really good and such a busy year. We’ve been on over 20 flights this year and it’s only July. We’ve been on camps to South Korea and Portugal and we’ve also been to competitions in Croatia, Finland, Portugal and Brazil. So it’s been such a busy year, but preparations are going well. We came back from Portugal yesterday (17th July) and we won another World Cup silver medal.
My fiance, Kevin comes and travels with me everywhere I go and he trains with me every day. He also loves sport and he loves what we’re doing and the fact that we’re doing it together.
What are you looking forward to the most at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, as well as aiming to secure a medal?
I’m not putting pressure on myself because I’m still so new to it and I’m just so excited to be going. I’ve had the pleasure of being number one in frame running so I understand what additional pressure and expectation this can add heading into a major competition. It’s quite nice not to have this feeling this time around.
To be honest with you, I’m just looking forward to going there and experiencing the whole Paralympic Games and taking it all in and just the opportunity that it’ll give me. Then maybe in four years, I’ll hopefully have more chances of getting a medal. But you never know, I’m going to see what I can do when I get out there and just enjoy it.
You can find out more about Kayleigh Haggo by following her on Instagram.
Paris 2024 Paralympics: Kayleigh Haggo’s results
Kayleigh exceeded all expectations at her first Paralympics, reaching the knockout stages in both the Women’s BC2 individuals and the BC1-3 Team event.
She opened her campaign in the individuals, with two preliminary rounds – a loss against South Korea and a win against Portugal – and then proceeded to the quarter-finals.
Reacting to the win in her second match, Kayleigh said: “I feel amazing. To get the first win, I can’t believe it, I’m so happy. I played really well yesterday so I was quite confident going into this game that if I played that well again I’d get the win. I did just that. I’m really happy I’ve used what I’ve learned over the last six months – I’ve played Ana three times in the last six months and won all three despite her being ranked higher than me. So it gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”
At the singles quarter-final, Kayleigh lost 8-2 to Gischa Zayana from Indonesia. Sharing thoughts on being knocked out, Kayleigh said: “I’m just so happy to be here and to be in the quarter finals in my first Paralympics. I’m just so happy and hopefully next time I can do even better.”
A couple of days later, Kayleigh joined GB teammates Claire Taggart and David Smith in BC1/2 mixed team Pool C. The trio beat Portugal 5-4 to qualify for the quarter-finals after being beaten 13-1 by China earlier in the day. Sadly, they lost 7*-7 to Indonesia in the quarter-final. *They lost 2-0 in a tiebreak final end.
Be sure to catch up on Kayleigh Haggo’s matches and the rest of the ParalympicsGB boccia squad at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Channel 4.
What is boccia?
Boccia is a simple game where ne side has six red balls and the other six blue balls. The aim is to get your balls closer to the white target ball, the ‘jack’, than your opponent.
To start an end, one side will throw the jack. They will then throw their first ball trying to get it as close as possible. The other side then attempts to throw their ball closer. After that, the side whose ball is not closest to the jack throws the next ball. Once all balls have been played, points are awarded. The side that is closest to the jack receives a point for every ball they have nearer than their opponent’s closest ball.
A match consists of a set number of ends, four in Individual and Pairs events and six in the Team game. Once all ends have been played the side with the highest score is the winner.
Boccia is played indoor on a court similar in size to badminton. Players are positioned at one end in throwing boxes and can throw the jack anywhere on court over the ‘V’ line.
The balls are made of leather and are filled with plastic granules so they do not bounce and are easy to grip.
Boccia classifications
Played by athletes with a high level of impairment resulting from Cerebral Palsy or other conditions affecting motor skills, the sport is a test of muscle control and accuracy, demanding extreme skill and concentration at the highest level.
All athletes have an impairment that affects all four of their limbs. The majority of players use an electric wheelchair for mobility.
There are four classifications and all events are mixed.
The BC1 class is for players who have Cerebral Palsy. Athletes will have difficulty gripping the ball. As a result they are permitted to have an assistant on court to pass them the ball before they throw. BC1 athletes are allowed to use their hands or feet to play the ball. Most athletes throw the ball but a small number kick the ball into play.
The BC2 class is also for players who have Cerebral Palsy. BC2 players are more able than BC1 players to grip and release the ball. As a result they are not permitted an assistant on court and must throw the ball onto court.
There are three events for BC1 and BC2 players: the Individual BC1 event, the Individual BC2 event and the BC1/BC2 Team event which is three aside – a minimum of one BC1 player per side must be on court at all times.
The BC3 class is for players with either Cerebral Palsy or other conditions and was added to the Games in 1996. BC3 players have the highest level of impairment. They are unable to throw or kick the ball consistently into play and therefore play using an assistive device, also known as a ramp. The athlete has an assistant on court that faces away from play and is not allowed to turn around for the duration of the end. The assistant positions the ramp under instruction from the player and places the ball on the ramp for the player to release. There are two BC3 events: an Individual and a Pairs event. In the Pairs event, at least one player with Cerebral Palsy must be on court at all times.
The BC4 class is for players who do not have Cerebral Palsy and was first included in the Paralympic Games in 2004. BC4 players have similar functional ability to BC2 players so have difficulty gripping and releasing the ball but can throw it consistently into play. There are two BC4 events: an Individual and a Pairs event.
Check out other interviews with Will Arnott and David Smith.