The LTA and The National Lottery release collaborative films showcasing ParalympicsGB stars Alfie Hewett, Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne preparing for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo
The LTA and The National Lottery – an official partner of ParalympicsGB – are releasing a short film ahead of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, celebrating Great Britain’s wheelchair tennis athletes and bringing to life the calibre of their training in the build-up to this year’s event.
The feature stars two-time silver medallist and 17-time Grand Slam champion Alfie Hewett, double bronze medallist Lucy Shuker, and three-time Paralympic medallist Andy Lapthorne as they go through their final preparations on court before the 2020 Tokyo Games get underway on 24 August.
The trio showcase the power, speed and the athleticism that makes them Paralympians and demonstrate why they represent some of the greatest champions in the game. The team hope that their efforts and achievements at this year’s Games will help inspire a new generation of wheelchair tennis stars to pick up a racket and begin their journey in the sport.
As the official partner of the LTA’s Wheelchair Performance Pathway, The National Lottery provides crucial support to the current elite level of the sport as they prepare for Tokyo 2020 and also looks to encourage more juniors, men, women and quads to pick up a racket for the first time, feeding into one of the most successful disability sport programmes in the UK.
The LTA recently launched a campaign to inspire more people to play wheelchair tennis, and find future champions. The LTA Wheelchair Talent Initiative is made of up seven taster days at venues across the UK, with activities catering to all skill levels. The campaign is made possible thanks to the governing body’s collaboration with The National Lottery.
Lucy Shuker, who became the first woman to win a medal for Great Britain in wheelchair tennis alongside Jordanne Whiley at London 2012, said: “A really big thank you to everyone who plays The National Lottery and buys a ticket. It’s through that money that we can become full-time athletes and afford to train, compete and hopefully bring back medals for our country to celebrate.
Find out how to get involved in wheelchair tennis and discover an LTA Wheelchair Tennis Initiative day near you here.