BOCCIA star Kieran Steer has revealed that 2016 was both the "best and worst year" of his life despite becoming a Paralympian.

The 21-year-old from Crossgates qualified for the Games in Rio for the first time in his sporting career and revealed that losing his mum spurred him on to star for Team GB.

Talented Kieran, who works on his game with Dalgety Bay's Great Britain coach Claire Morrison, reflected on his achievements on the court over the last 12 months after being recognised at the annual Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council Sports Awards on Wednesday.

After missing out to this year's Sports Personality of the Year – and fellow Paralympian – Alison Patrick last year, he was chosen to receive the East Kilbride Sports Council award for athletes with a disability after his efforts in Rio saw him reach the semi-finals of the mixed pairs event in the BC4 classification.

He was handed a tough draw in the individual competition, going up against the eventual bronze and silver medallists and a Brazilian home favourite, but described the experience as "amazing".

However, he revealed that it came quickly after suffering personal heartbreak with the loss of his mum in March, whom he said had encouraged him to take up boccia and to be the best he could be.

"It was the best and worst year for me," he said.

"The best part was going to the Paralympics but the worst part came in March when I lost my mum. That spurred me on and made me be the best that I can be. I can only thank her because she encouraged me to take up the sport. She did what she could to support me and it worked, so I think that she will be proud.

"It (Rio) was an amazing experience. The way I played individually was good but, unfortunately, I got drawn in the hardest group!

"This is really good and I'm looking forward to hopefully adding more trophies and medals in the future."

Kieran, who was identified by Disability Sport Fife (DSF) as a potential disability sports person at their annual multi-sport junior festival while still a Beath High School pupil in 2009, won a bronze medal at the British Junior Boccia Championships in 2011.

Since then, he has gone on to reach a world ranking of 11 in individual competition, 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.

But competing in Rio is the pinnacle of his career so far, and he continued: "It was an amazing experience to be famous there for a while, and be around other athletes that you see on TV.

"I played one of the guys from Brazil and I could hardly hear anything in the whole game because of the noise! That was probably my favourite game because of the atmosphere. It has made me want more and to see where it takes me."

That could be to the next Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020, and even beyond that, but for now it's back to training.

He added: "It's like starting again. Any mistakes I made in the last cycle I'll look to correct in the next one and it's a bit like a reboot. I don't know what my next events are bit I hope to get to the next Paralympics, and the next one after that. I think that is in Los Angeles, and I'd love to go there!

"I hope there's more success to come."