Gregory Slade

Started: He first tried wheelchair tennis in 2016 at Sutton Tennis Academy in England. (lta.org.uk, 06 Aug 2024) Reason: His mother, along with coach Luke Mulvhill, encouraged him to try wheelchair tennis. He had previously played standing tennis as a hobby. "So my mum said to me we're just going to go and have a watch and watch what they are doing and then when we get there Luke just said, 'Hi Greg, here's a chair, get in it'. And so at that point I had no choice and that was the start of it. Tennis runs in my family and really if I'm honest I took it up as a hobby so I could play with them but I'm glad I took the plunge [into wheelchair tennis] as it's given me so much. Regardless of where my tennis does take me in the end I've made lifelong friends playing sport." (everybodymoves.org.uk, 19 Jul 2023) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (lta.org.uk, 06 Aug 2024) Additional Info: PARIS 2024 SELECTION He received a Bipartite Commission Invitation slot to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "The first emotion when I was told that I was going to Paris was disbelief and shock. It's been a goal for a good number of years, even before tennis became really serious, so to have that confirmation that this is happening and that I have made it was very surreal. Andy [doubles partner Andy Lapthorne] has got a lot of Paralympic experience and, of course, I'm hoping to draw from that and use his experience to guide me through my first Games. We've just won our fourth title together [as of August 2024], so that was ideally timed." (lta.org.uk, 06 Aug 2024)