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Louise Hunt (born 24 May 1991) is a British wheelchair tennis player who competed in international level events. She was a former world number 2 in the junior wheelchair tennis singles rankings, and 10 in the women’s international rankings. She is a colour badge holder as she competed in 2 Paralympic Games and 13 World Team Cups around the world. She got bronze at the 2011 BNP Paribas World Team Cup and silver medalist at the 2012 BNP Paribas World Team Cup. Louise is now an athlete mentor and unique motivational speaker. Hunt is an international tournament director and professional commentator, commentating at events such and Wimbledon, World masters and the Paralympics.[2][3]
 Louise Hunt at the Games Makers party | |
| Country (sports) |  Great Britain |
|---|---|
| Residence | Swindon, Wiltshire, England[1] |
| Born | 24 May 1991 Wanborough, Wiltshire, England |
| Turned pro | 2006 |
| Retired | 2021 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career titles | 13 |
| Highest ranking | No. 10 (30 November 2015) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | QF (2016) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Paralympic Games | 1R (2012, 2016) |
| Doubles | |
| Career titles | 41 |
| Highest ranking | No. 10 (16 January 2017) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (2015, 2016) |
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Louise started playing wheelchair tennis aged five[4] and became a very successful junior player, winning the girls’ doubles title on three occasions at the Junior Wheelchair Tennis Masters in Tarbes, France. She studied Sports Performance graduating from University of Bath.[5]
Hunt married Christopher Skelley on 3 September 2022 at Holbrook Manor, near Wincanton in Somerset[6]
Louise was born on the 24th May 1991 with a disability called Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Louise has therefore been in a wheelchair her whole life as she has little movement in her lower limbs.[copyright violation?]
At the age of 5 Louise began participating in many sports, swimming, basketball, fencing and soon discovered she had keen interests in Wheelchair Tennis and Wheelchair Racing. Louise Won 7 out of 10 London Mini Wheelchair Marathons which is an un-official World Record. Alongside this she was also playing Tennis and soon realised this was her real passion. Louise has been playing and competing in Wheelchair Tennis ever since, and in 2012 competed in her first Paralympic Games in London which was a dream come true. Louise also competed in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, qualifying at her highest ever ranking to date of 10 in the World.[copyright violation?]
In the summer of 2021 Louise decided to retire from competitive sport after achieving and exceeding all goals she had made herself in her athletic career. She is now self employed working across various roles, such as Commentary, Mentoring, Public peaking, Support work and Consultancy. Alongside this work she is still maintaining her Ambassador roles for local and national charities which are very close to her heart.
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Louise reached a career high of ten in the world rankings in both singles and doubles, and number 2 nationally.
She reached a career best junior ranking of No. 2 in January 2009. Louise won her first senior women's singles title in Turkey in 2009 and added a second title in Turkey later that year.[7] Louise made her Paralympic debut at London 2012, competing in the women's singles competition, and competed in her first away Games at Rio 2016.[8] In 2019 the LTA, the governing body of tennis in Britain, hosted international wheelchair tennis in Oxfordshire for the very first time, British number three Hunt beat second seed and three-time national champion Lauren Jones 6–4, 6–4 in the women's singles final after dropping just one game in the earlier rounds.[9]
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Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Wimbledon - Men's Wheelchair Doubles Final | Analyst | Day 12 (14 July 2018) |
| 2018 | Wimbledon - Ladies' Wheelchair Doubles Final | Commentator | Day 13 (15 July 2018) |
| 2021 | Channel 4 - Tokyo 2020 Paralympics | Commentator / Presenter for Wheelchair Tennis [10] | |
| 2021 | The Last Leg of Tokyo | Herself/Guest | 29 August 2021 |
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