Wheelchair tennis at the Summer Paralympics facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wheelchair tennis at the Summer Paralympics |
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| Governing body | ITF |
| Events | 6 (men: 2; women: 2; mixed: 2) |
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| Note: demonstration sport years indicated in italics | |
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Wheelchair tennis is an exciting sport played at the Summer Paralympics. It's just like regular tennis, but players use wheelchairs. It first appeared as a special demonstration sport in 1988, with events for men and women playing by themselves (singles).
It became an official sport where athletes could win medals in 1992. Since then, wheelchair tennis has been a part of every Summer Paralympics. At first, there were four events. In 2004, two new "quad" events were added for athletes with more limited movement, making a total of six events.
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Wheelchair Tennis at the Paralympics
This table shows how wheelchair tennis has grown at the Paralympics over the years. You can see how many events were held and which country won the most medals each time.
| Games | Year | Events | Top Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 1988 | 2 |  Netherlands |
| 9 | 1992 | 4 | Netherlands |
| 10 | 1996 | 4 | Netherlands |
| 11 | 2000 | 4 | Netherlands |
| 12 | 2004 | 6 | Netherlands |
| 13 | 2008 | 6 | Netherlands |
| 14 | 2012 | 6 | Netherlands |
| 15 | 2016 | 6 | Netherlands |
| 16 | 2020 | 6 | Netherlands |
| 17 | 2024 | 6 |  Japan |
Types of Events
At each Paralympic Games, there are six different wheelchair tennis events where athletes can compete for medals.
- Men's singles: One man plays against another.
- Men's doubles: Two men play against two other men.
- Women's singles: One woman plays against another.
- Women's doubles: Two women play against two other women.
- Quad singles (Open): One player with limited movement in their arms and legs (called quadriplegia) plays against another. These events are "open," meaning both men and women can compete.
- Quad doubles (Open): Two players with quadriplegia play against two others. These events are also "open."
The "quad" events were added in 2004. Before the 2024 Games, only two women had competed in these events: Monique de Beer from the Netherlands and Sarah Hunter from Canada. Monique de Beer is the only woman to have won a medal in a quad event, earning a bronze in doubles in 2004.
Medal Count by Country
This table shows which countries have won the most medals in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympics, up to the 2024 Summer Paralympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands (NED) |
25 | 18 | 14 | 57 |
| 2 | Japan (JPN) |
7 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| 3 |  United States (USA) |
6 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
| 4 |  France (FRA) |
6 | 4 | 7 | 17 |
| 5 |  Australia (AUS) |
5 | 7 | 3 | 15 |
| 6 |  Great Britain (GBR) |
4 | 11 | 8 | 23 |
| 7 |  Sweden (SWE) |
1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 |  Israel (ISR) |
1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 9 |  Germany (GER) |
0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 10 |  Thailand (THA) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 |  Argentina (ARG) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Belgium (BEL) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 China (CHN) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 South Africa (RSA) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Spain (ESP) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Switzerland (SUI) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (16 entries) | 55 | 55 | 57 | 167 | |
Paralympic Medal Winners
Here are the athletes who have won medals in wheelchair tennis at the Summer Paralympics since 1988.
Men's Singles Medalists
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Seoul demonstration |
Laurent Giammartini France |
Mick Connell Australia |
Chip Turner United StatesSasson Aharoni  Israel |
| 1992 Barcelona | Randy Snow United States |
Kai Schramayer Germany |
Laurent Giammartini France |
| 1996 Atlanta | Ricky Molier Netherlands |
Stephen Welch United States |
David Hall Australia |
| 2000 Sydney | David Hall Australia |
Stephen Welch United States |
Kai Schramayer Germany |
| 2004 Athens | Robin Ammerlaan Netherlands |
David Hall Australia |
Michaël Jérémiasz France |
| 2008 Beijing | Shingo Kunieda Japan |
Robin Ammerlaan Netherlands |
Maikel Scheffers Netherlands |
| 2012 London | Shingo Kunieda Japan |
Stéphane Houdet France |
Ronald Vink Netherlands |
| 2016 Rio | Gordon Reid Great Britain |
Alfie Hewett Great Britain |
Joachim Gérard Belgium |
| 2020 Tokyo | Shingo Kunieda Japan |
Tom Egberink Netherlands |
Gordon Reid Great Britain |
| 2024 Paris | Tokito Oda Japan |
Alfie Hewett Great Britain |
Gustavo Fernández Argentina |
Women's Singles Medalists
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Seoul demonstration |
Chantal Vandierendonck Netherlands |
Monique Van Den Bosch Netherlands |
Terry Lewis United States Ellen de Lange Netherlands |
| 1992 Barcelona | Monique van den Bosch Netherlands |
Chantal Vandierendonck Netherlands |
Regina Isecke Germany |
| 1996 Atlanta | Maaike Smit Netherlands |
Monique Kalkman-van den Bosch Netherlands |
Chantal Vandierendonck Netherlands |
| 2000 Sydney | Esther Vergeer Netherlands |
Sharon Walraven Netherlands |
Maaike Smit Netherlands |
| 2004 Athens | Esther Vergeer Netherlands |
Sonja Peters Netherlands |
Daniela Di Toro Australia |
| 2008 Beijing | Esther Vergeer Netherlands |
Korie Homan Netherlands |
Florence Gravellier France |
| 2012 London | Esther Vergeer Netherlands |
Aniek van Koot Netherlands |
Jiske Griffioen Netherlands |
| 2016 Rio | Jiske Griffioen Netherlands |
Aniek van Koot Netherlands |
Yui Kamiji Japan |
| 2020 Tokyo | Diede de Groot Netherlands |
Yui Kamiji Japan |
Jordanne Whiley Great Britain |
| 2024 Paris | Yui Kamiji Japan |
Diede de Groot Netherlands |
Aniek van Koot Netherlands |
Quad Singles Medalists
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Athens | Peter Norfolk Great Britain |
David Wagner United States |
Bas van Erp Netherlands |
| 2008 Beijing | Peter Norfolk Great Britain |
Johan Andersson Sweden |
David Wagner United States |
| 2012 London | Noam Gershony Israel |
David Wagner United States |
Nicholas Taylor United States |
| 2016 Rio | Dylan Alcott Australia |
Andrew Lapthorne Great Britain |
David Wagner United States |
| 2020 Tokyo | Dylan Alcott Australia |
Sam Schröder Netherlands |
Niels Vink Netherlands |
| 2024 Paris | Niels Vink Netherlands |
Sam Schröder Netherlands |
Guy Sasson Israel |
Men's Doubles Medalists
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Barcelona | United States (USA) Brad Parks Randy Snow |
France (FRA) Thierry Caillier Laurent Giammartini |
Germany (GER) Stefan Bitterauf Kai Schramayer |
| 1996 Atlanta | United States (USA) Stephen Welch Vance Parmelly |
Australia (AUS) David Hall Mick Connell |
Netherlands (NED) Ricky Molier Eric Stuurman |
| 2000 Sydney | Netherlands (NED) Ricky Molier Robin Ammerlaan |
Australia (AUS) David Johnson David Hall |
United States (USA) Stephen Welch Scott Douglas |
| 2004 Athens | Japan (JPN) Shingo Kunieda Satoshi Saida |
France (FRA) Michaël Jérémiasz Lahcen Majdi |
Australia (AUS) Anthony Bonaccurso David Hall |
| 2008 Beijing | France (FRA) Stéphane Houdet Michaël Jérémiasz |
Sweden (SWE) Stefan Olsson Peter Vikström |
Japan (JPN) Shingo Kunieda Satoshi Saida |
| 2012 London | Sweden (SWE) Stefan Olsson Peter Vikström |
France (FRA) Frédéric Cattanéo Nicolas Peifer |
France (FRA) Stéphane Houdet Michaël Jérémiasz |
| 2016 Rio | France (FRA) Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
Great Britain (GBR) Alfie Hewett Gordon Reid |
Japan (JPN) Shingo Kunieda Satoshi Saida |
| 2020 Tokyo | France (FRA) Stéphane Houdet Nicolas Peifer |
Great Britain (GBR) Alfie Hewett Gordon Reid |
Netherlands (NED) Tom Egberink Maikel Scheffers |
| 2024 Paris | Great Britain (GBR) Alfie Hewett Gordon Reid |
Japan (JPN) Takuya Miki Tokito Oda |
Spain (ESP) Daniel Caverzaschi Martín de la Puente |
Women's Doubles Medalists
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Barcelona | Netherlands (NED) Monique van den Bosch Chantal Vandierendonck |
United States (USA) Nancy Olson Lynn Seidemann |
France (FRA) Oristelle Marx Arlette Racineux |
| 1996 Atlanta | Netherlands (NED) Chantal Vandierendonck Monique Kalkman-van den Bosch |
United States (USA) Hope Lewellen Nancy Olson |
France (FRA) Oristelle Marx Arlette Racineux |
| 2000 Sydney | Netherlands (NED) Maaike Smit Esther Vergeer |
Australia (AUS) Branka Pupovac Daniela Di Toro |
Germany (GER) Christine Otterbach Petra Sax-Scharl |
| 2004 Athens | Netherlands (NED) Maaike Smit Esther Vergeer |
Thailand (THA) Sakhorn Khanthasit Ratana Techamaneewat |
Switzerland (SUI) Sandra Kalt Karin Suter-Erath |
| 2008 Beijing | Netherlands (NED) Korie Homan Sharon Walraven |
Netherlands (NED) Jiske Griffioen Esther Vergeer |
France (FRA) Florence Gravellier Arlette Racineux |
| 2012 London | Netherlands (NED) Marjolein Buis Esther Vergeer |
Netherlands (NED) Jiske Griffioen Aniek van Koot |
Great Britain (GBR) Lucy Shuker Jordanne Whiley |
| 2016 Rio | Netherlands (NED) Jiske Griffioen Aniek van Koot |
Netherlands (NED) Marjolein Buis Diede de Groot |
Great Britain (GBR) Lucy Shuker Jordanne Whiley |
| 2020 Tokyo | Netherlands (NED) Diede de Groot Aniek van Koot |
Great Britain (GBR) Lucy Shuker Jordanne Whiley |
Japan (JPN) Yui Kamiji Momoko Ohtani |
| 2024 Paris | Japan (JPN) Yui Kamiji Manami Tanaka |
Netherlands (NED) Diede de Groot Aniek van Koot |
China (CHN) Guo Luoyao Wang Ziying |
Quad Doubles Medalists
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Athens | United States (USA) Nicholas Taylor David Wagner |
Great Britain (GBR) Mark Eccleston Peter Norfolk |
Netherlands (NED) Monique de Beer Bas van Erp |
| 2008 Beijing | United States (USA) Nicholas Taylor Boaz Kramer Shraga Weinberg |
Israel (ISR) Boaz Kramer Shraga Weinberg |
Great Britain (GBR) Jamie Burdekin Peter Norfolk |
| 2012 London | United States (USA) Nicholas Taylor David Wagner |
Great Britain (GBR) Andrew Lapthorne Peter Norfolk |
Israel (ISR) Noam Gershony Shraga Weinberg |
| 2016 Rio | Australia (AUS) Dylan Alcott Heath Davidson |
United States (USA) Nicholas Taylor David Wagner |
Great Britain (GBR) Andrew Lapthorne Peter Norfolk |
| 2020 Tokyo | Netherlands (NED) Sam Schröder Niels Vink |
Australia (AUS) Dylan Alcott Heath Davidson |
Japan (JPN) Mitsuteru Moroishi Koji Sugeno |
| 2024 Paris | Netherlands (NED) Sam Schröder Niels Vink |
Great Britain (GBR) Andy Lapthorne Gregory Slade |
South Africa (RSA) Donald Ramphadi Lucas Sithole |
See also
In Spanish: Tenis en silla de ruedas en los Juegos Paralímpicos para niños
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