Shelby Baron

Quick Facts

• Baron was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that has resulted in weakness in her legs
• Until the third grade, Shelby walked around school with crutches and sat out of most PE activities
• When she was nine years old, Lolly Romano, an adaptive PE specialist with the Department of Education, introduced her to a wheelchair
• This allowed her to participate in most sports along with her classmates
• She began playing wheelchair basketball with Coach Jeff Sampaga as a way to get exercise, and was referred to a Tuesday night wheelchair tennis class
• Tennis was frustrating at first, but she felt so good each time she hit a ball back over the net
• After a couple of years, she joined a U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) junior team with able-bodied players
• She is a four-time Collegiate National Champion
• Daughter of Benjamin and Rhoda Baron
• Has one brother, Casey.

Career Highlights

• World Cup team member (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• 2019 Janco Steel Wheelchair Tennis Classic, gold (singles)
• 2019 Windsor Classic, gold (singles)
• 2019 Indian Wells Tennis Garden Wheelchair Championships, gold (singles)
• 2016 Arizona Open, gold (doubles)
• 2016 Midwest Championships, gold (doubles)

More

International Tennis Federation

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian;
• Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 9th (Doubles - Women), 17th (Singles - Women)
• Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 5th (Doubles - Women), 9th (Singles - Women)