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Courtney Webeck, a 19-year-old from New South Wales, is representing Australia on the IBSA World Video games in Nice Britain this week.
Birmingham, Nice Britain, 19 August 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Courtney Webeck refuses to let impaired imaginative and prescient cease her from dwelling her goals.
Lower than two years after first choosing up a tennis racquet, the 19-year-old is representing Australia on the IBSA World Video games in Nice Britain.
The Worldwide Blind Sports activities Federation (IBSA) World Video games are the most important high-level worldwide occasion for visually impaired athletes.
Webeck is a part of an 11-member Australian tennis staff competing in Birmingham this week.
“It means a hell of lots to placed on the inexperienced and gold alongside some wonderful individuals,” Webeck advised tennis.com.au.
“To make the Australian staff is a dream come true, one which I didn’t suppose could be a actuality 12 months in the past.”
Webeck, from Gloucester in New South Wales, contested her first BLV (blind and low imaginative and prescient) tennis match in Might 2022.
“I didn’t win something, however I actually loved it,” she stated.
“Then six months after that, I used to be fortunate sufficient to get the win on the nationwide championships and transfer to No.1 within the nation.”
Webeck defended her nationwide title on the 2023 Australian BLV Championships in Melbourne final month, successful each the B2 and B3 girls’s singles occasions.
Courtney Webeck in motion on the Nationwide Tennis Centre at Melbourne Park. Image: Tennis Australia
The college pupil now performs tennis thrice per week. Her busy schedule additionally contains cricket, netball and horse using.
“I’m doing loads of pilates as properly to enhance my flexibility and stability,” she stated.
Webeck admits taking part in tennis comes with many challenges, each bodily and mentally.
“(Tennis) wasn’t the primary sport I appeared to. Not with the ability to see the ball, it was a bit tough,” she stated.
An tailored foam ball that may be heard rattling throughout the courtroom is utilized in BLV tennis, with as much as three bounces allowed earlier than the ball should be hit. The courts are additionally smaller, with traces on the courtroom raised to mark boundaries.
Webeck says considered one of her greatest obstacles when beginning out in tennis was “believing which you can get each ball again throughout the web”.
Her dedication to enhance has led to many particular experiences for Webeck.
She was thrilled to take part in a BLV tennis exhibition at Melbourne Park throughout Australian Open 2023 and was invited to affix Australian Billie Jean King Cup captain Alicia Molik in a Mastercard marketing campaign.
“She is probably the most humble particular person I’ve ever met,” Webeck stated of Molik, a former top-10 star and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
“It was wonderful to spend time along with her. She even performed tennis with me in a blindfold, which I feel gave her a brand new perspective on how individuals with a imaginative and prescient impairment play.”
Webeck, who lists Ash Barty as considered one of her greatest inspirations, has additionally made many new buddies by the game.
“It’s a extremely welcoming surroundings, everyone seems to be so supportive of one another,” she stated.
Webeck, who will even characterize Australia in cricket on the IBSA World Video games, is a proud Blind Sports activities Australia ambassador.
The position encompasses supporting her friends and serving to increase the profile of BLV sporting alternatives.
Her message to others is to “chase your goals”.
“You are able to do no matter you need,” she stated. “I didn’t suppose a yr in the past I’d be representing my nation in a number of sports activities, however right here I’m.”
> VIEW: Outcomes and schedule for the IBSA World Video games
E book on-line, play as we speak: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
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