Blog: “Tennis makes me feel happy”
Activity Alliance features a blog post every Friday which shares the experiences of disabled people involved in sport and exercise at all levels. Today, we hear from GB wheelchair tennis player Dermot. In his blog he tells us why he loves the sport so much.
Hi my name is Dermot, I’m 24 years old, I live in Northamptonshire and I love playing wheelchair tennis.
I started playing wheelchair tennis when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I now play for Great Britain. What I loved about wheelchair tennis when I first started playing is that it gave me an opportunity to take part in a sport I took part with friends before I became disabled.
I now I play tennis for the enjoyment and the competition. Through tennis I have been able to travel around the world competing, and make friends with people from all walks of life. Taking part in sport makes me feel happy and the sport has opened up opportunities for me that I wouldn’t necessarily have got to experience otherwise.
I have Perthes Disease, which is a condition that affects the hip. Through sport I have been able to be more independent. The wheelchair skills gained through playing tennis enables me to comfortably push myself around without having to rely on other people for assistance. Little things like this seem really small but for people who have recently started using a chair then this will help them adjust and feel more confident.
The support of my family and friends are key. My family have done so much for me, they really encouraged me to go and try tennis, and other different sports too. They take me across the country and abroad to tournaments and training too. The friends I have gained whilst competing and training are also massive with their support, through encouragement whilst training or messages of support when things aren't going as planned.
Throughout the next year I have a lot of tournaments planned, all with the aim of trying to qualify for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
My advice to other disabled people, or non-disabled people considering being more active or taking part in a sport is – go and try something new. Sport and activity is a great way of making new friends and being active can definitely hep in improving your quality of life. It gives you access to things you wouldn’t have experienced without sport – and these experiences are priceless.
If you want to be more active but aren't sure how to start, visit our dedicated webpages for advice.
If you’re interested in trying tennis, you can find guidance, local sessions and information on the support available on the Lawn Tennis Association website.
