THERE was disappointment in Rio for Crossgates boccia player Kieran Steer as he missed out on the medals. 

He made his debut Paralympics debut for Team GB in Brazil but didn't make it onto the podium despite his best efforts and some very close contests. 

In the BC4 individual competition, Steer landed a tough draw and played three matches. 

In his second tie the 21-year-old came up against Larpyen from Thailand who went on to win the bronze medal and in his final game he met Andrejck from Slovakia, the winner of the silver medal. 

In the mixed pairs BC4 team, where he was joined by Stephen McGuire and Evie Edwards, Steer reached the semi finals. 

They had beaten Slovakia 4-2 and Portugal 11-4 before drawing 2-2 with Hong Kong. 

Up against Brazil in the semi, they narrowly lost 4-2 after Team GB lost the first two ends but won the last two. 

They faced Thailand in the bronze medal play-off but lost by the odd point in five. 

Although obviously disappointed not to get amongst the medals, Steer, a Disability Sport Fife (DSF) member who is coached by Claire Morrison from Dalgety Bay, enjoyed the experience and the hope is it will make him a stronger player. 

It's certainly been a rapid rise to success as he was first introduced to boccia – a sport similar to bowls but designed specifically for athletes with a disability – six years ago at a multi-sports day hosted by DSF.

Selection to the GB squad through his involvement in a fast-track talent programme saw him achieve success both domestically and internationally, as well as becoming a full-time performance athlete, training on court between 10-12 hours a week.

Steer's consistent level of development saw him reach a world ranking of 11 in individual competition and fourth in the pairs, help GB's BC4 pair finish as runners-up in last year's European Teams and Pairs Boccia Championships and win gold in the singles at the 2015 European Continental Cup in Barcelona.

Two other DSF athletes were on the plane for Brazil with Dunfermline’s Alison Patrick, alongside her guide Hazel Smith, winning silver in the para-triathlon PT5 class for visually impaired competitors. 

In sweltering conditions, Derek Rae, from Kirkcaldy, did not complete the marathon. Only six T46 athletes completed the course. 

It was Great Britain’s most successful Paralympics since 1988. They won 147 medals in Rio, with 64 gold, 39 silver and 44 bronze.