BC Wheelchair Sports Association Celebrates the Wheelchair Tennis Career of Sarah Hunter

BC Wheelchair Sports Association Celebrates the Wheelchair Tennis Career of Sarah Hunter
massive-dev | July 23, 2017

After a storied 17-year wheelchair tennis career, Sarah Hunter announced her retirement last week. BC Wheelchair Sports Association is proud to celebrate both her legacy on the court, and the contributions she still makes as a coach and mentor to the up-and-coming athletes in our community.

“There’s no question that Sarah Hunter is one of the finest wheelchair tennis athletes that Canada has ever produced,” said BCWSA Executive Director Gail Hamamoto. “But though her competitive career is coming to an end, we are so glad that she will continue to pass down knowledge to the next generation of wheelchair tennis athletes through coaching and mentorship.”

It is impossible to overstate Hunter’s contribution to the sport of wheelchair tennis. She was the No. 1-ranked player in Canada in the quad division for 13 years (2001-2013) and won 17 singles and doubles national championship titles. Internationally, she has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world in both singles and doubles, which is a Canadian record. At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, she came fourth in quad doubles with the late Brian McPhate. She also competed for 14 years in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup.

For the past two seasons, Hunter has coached the Girls Only Wheelchair Tennis Program, and has mentored up-and-coming female athletes. She is currently completing her Club Pro 1 coaching certification and has plans to complete the next two levels over 18 months. Her ultimate goal is to one day coach the women’s or junior team at a World Team Cup.

On behalf of all of us at BC Wheelchair Sports Association, congratulations to Sarah Hunter on an impressive career.