At The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, Daniel Samsa (AUS) stood testament to the power of persistence and passion in sport.
Representing Australia in the Men’s Lyonnaise Progressive Throw alongside with his sister Nicole in the Women’s, he was not only hoping to showcase exceptional skill but also represent his roots in the sport proudly.
He was born into a family with deep ties to Boules as both of his Slovenian grandparents grew up playing and continued the tradition throughout their lives when they immigrated down under.
Therefore, you could say Daniel’s introduction to the sport was almost destined.
“I couldn’t imagine not knowing it,” said the 2017 and 2019 World Championship bronze medallist. “It played a big part. I’ve been surrounded by it in Australia, and there’s enough clubs that it’s definitely visible if you know where to look.”
“You start off, as you do with any sport, for fun, and then once I started going overseas and competing a bit, I was like, OK, this is a lot more than what I knew back home.”
Daniel’s journey in Boules began in Slovenia when his grandfather first took him to a club in his hometown but after trying out pétanque at the junior level in Australia, he discovered the art of the Progressive Throw and was quickly hooked to it.
The combination of the precision and fitness levels required for the discipline – where athletes have to hit and run the jackball as many times as possible in five minutes – attracted Samsa so much that it quickly escalated to international competition.
The intense training drills are another aspect he admires, that require both technical skill and mental focus.
“One of the training tools we use is setting a limit of targets to hit in a set time. We’ll say we won’t stop until we hit 15 or 20 targets.”
“Realistically, we should be hitting that without missing more than a couple, but it still makes you concentrate until the last second.”
“If you don’t hit that last one, you’re running extra, and if you still don’t get it, you’re running a bit more. That’s where the concentration comes into play,” he added.
The impact of international competition has shaped Daniel’s perspective on technique as well.
No doubt also helped by the influence of his grandparents, he likens his throwing style to the flamboyance of European boules players.
The exaggerated motion of the arm is there for a reason - to give the boules as much momentum as possible in order for it to reach the jack.
The other popular movement in Progressive Throw is with the hand under the ball partly from how China throws, Samsa explained, prioritising a backswing on the boules in order to save energy each throw. Although it is a style the Australian doesn’t prefer.
Samsa’s hard work and attention of detail to the game has already earned him a place in Australian sporting history.
Last year he broke the Asia/Pacific record, hitting 44 jacks out of 48 tries, bettering the one held by his idol and fellow Aussie Santo Pascuzzi.
“Australia hasn’t always been one of the biggest competitors in Boules sports, but working so hard to try and get myself up there—when I got my first medal and then the second one—it proved that I could do it and do it more than once,” commented Samsa.
“He (Pazzusci) was one of my idols growing up, and I always looked to be like him. He was the last Australian competing at the World Games for the Boules, so when I could beat that record and kind of equal him, it made me feel a sense of accomplishment for the hard work I’ve done.”
He pursued results but The World Games 2025 are now over for Daniel having unable to reach the Men’s and Mixed Team semifinals.
He finished individual qualifications at the Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus yesterday with 72 strikes out of 94 attempts (76 per cent return) and later he and Nicole ranked seventh in the Mixed Lyonnaise Quick Shooting Doubles Qualification Round, 68 out of 108 strikes.
It wouldn’t have been the outcome Samsa wanted but his mission in Chengdu remains incomplete as he stays to support his sister Nicole in tomorrow’s Women’s Lyonnaise Progressive Throw individual qualifications.
It is now her turn to carry the Samsa name and Australian flag.
Beyond results however, Daniel is still conscious of the broader picture for boules in Australia.
“Back in Australia, it’s not the biggest sport, and we always want more people to come and get involved. At the moment, my focus is to give everything I can to getting results, but I know a few people I used to play with in World Championships are now older and putting more focus on bringing people in and watching.”
“I could see myself doing that one day, once I’ve given it all I can and I think the next logical step in a sport like this is to give back and see how you can help it improve.”
Daniel Samsa will continue to compete and will look to do better than a disappointing TWG 2025.
He remains committed though not only to his own achievements but to the growth and visibility of boules in Australia.
Pazzusci was one of his heroes – and the last Australian Lyonnaise player at The World Games since Wroclaw 2017 - let’s see if he can inspire a new generation of Australian players along the way.