Blind tennis player aces his way to Spain...
Mikey is legally blind and dreams of being a professional tennis player. His lack of vision is not stopping him – Mikey is about to take his career to the world stage by participating in the 3rd International Blind Tennis Tournament in Spain in June. The team is comprised of seven players who are blind and vision impaired, supported by volunteers and a coach.
‘It’s a dream come true,’ Mikey said. ‘In the past I’ve had opportunities of being in the Paralympics representing Australia, not in tennis but in athletics as a sprinter. However, I was never fully dedicated as I don’t have the passion for sprinting as I do for ball games,’ he says.
Mikey has had muscular dystrophy since birth and said his partial vision was out of focus. ‘The best way to explain it is what the average person sees at 60 metres, I have to be six metres away to see,’ he said.
‘I’ve been playing tennis for five years and my goal is to become a professional player - I’m working extremely hard on my fitness and training at the moment,’ Mikey added.
Hitomi embraced the idea that the perfect time to volunteer might never come, inspiring her to connect with someone who shares her passion for music.
“The learning curve was steep but I learnt quickly. Rick is patient, experienced as a runner and extremely motivated” said Carlos, BSRV volunteer.
"We became fast friends and have never been at a loss for things to talk and laugh about!"
Heading out most weekends, Annette and BSRV volunteer Andrew are sharing their joy of riding as they explore their local area.
