Boccia star Alison Levine qualifies for quarter-finals after tough match

PARIS – Canadian boccia star Alison Levine is through to the quarterfinals in the women’s BC4 category after defeating Ukraine’s Nataliia Konenko 5-3 in a close-fought match.

“I just needed the win,” she said, speaking after the game. “If I lost I was eliminated, and I’m not here to be eliminated.”

Levine picked up a point in the first end but conceded three in the following two. Down 3-1 headed into the fourth and final end, Levine had to steady herself and kick it into another gear in order to stay in the competition.

“Alison a year ago, Alison maybe even six months ago, would not have been able to finish that game, would not have been able to win,” Levine said. “What I’m doing is focusing on myself and just playing.”

In a strong fourth end, she took 4 points to win the match and punched her ticket to the knockout round.

“Credit to my opponent, she made me work,” Levine said. “I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a thousand times: the progression of the female players is just improving, improving, improving.”

Ranked number two in the world in the women’s BC4 category, Levine finished pool play with a 2-1 record. She is the only member of the Canadian boccia team who will advance out of pool play in the individual category.

As she chases her first medal at a Paralympic Games, she’s feeling the love from fans in Paris and across Canada.

“It’s everything, it’s that respect, and it fuels me with confidence to continue doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I know there’s at least one person out there right now, probably one little girl, not knowing that she has a chance to represent her country on the world stage, and I just showed her that we can.”

Levine is now set to face off against Colombian Leidy Chica Chica, the world number one ranked women’s BC4 boccia athlete, in the quarterfinals this afternoon.

That match kicks off at 2:45pm ET.