WATCH: Brittany Greenslade’s complete story
WINNIPEG — Tennis requires arm strength, co-ordination and a lot of patience — but for some athletes, it takes so much more.
Wheelchair tennis originated as a sport in 1992. It is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world, Tennis Canada officials say.
“It’s important for people with disabilities to be physically active,” said Tennis Manitoba instructor Sam Unrau. “Often people think people with disabilities are un-abled.”
Unrau was born with spina bifida and has been paralyzed from the waist down since birth.
He’s been playing wheelchair sports since he was 10 years old and now teaches the junior wheelchair program for Tennis Manitoba.
Like able-bodied tennis, the wheelchair version takes a lot of skill, but there are a few major differences.
“With a standing person, they can do a shuffle step and run,” said Unrau. “With a wheelchair, it’s hard to go fast and then slow down and position your chair.”
Bethany Johnson broke her hip last summer after her growth plate slipped out. She is not able to play sports the way she used to anymore and has taken up a number of wheelchair sports, including tennis this summer.
“It’s the same level of competitiveness, but it’s more friendly,” Johnson said.
Tennis Manitoba said its program has quadrupled in size over the past two years; there are three juniors and five adults currently enrolled.
“Wheelchair sports are definitely growing,” said Unrau. “Para-sports in general create a social fabric within themselves. If another person is having an issue with something that is disability-related, it’s that network of friends that will often come to their aid.”
Getting started in wheelchair sports can be a costly undertaking. Sport chairs can cost upwards of $3,000. However, Tennis Manitoba teamed up with Manitoba Wheelchair to purchase a number of chairs so athletes don’t have to undertake the added cost.
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