March 28, 2024

“Standards have improved immensely” – Two-time British deaf champion Bryan Whalley discusses the evolution of deaf tennis – Lawn Tennis Association

 

“Being deaf, I enjoyed the sport in the deaf sporting world because there were no language barriers in communication, and socially I was never left out. Today, most young deaf people have cochlear implants or better hearing aids that help them to hear speech better, hence are able at most times, integrated in the hearing world and feel more included, socially.

“However, there are degrees of deafness and communication factors that impact or influence each deaf per…….

 

“Being deaf, I enjoyed the sport in the deaf sporting world because there were no language barriers in communication, and socially I was never left out. Today, most young deaf people have cochlear implants or better hearing aids that help them to hear speech better, hence are able at most times, integrated in the hearing world and feel more included, socially.

“However, there are degrees of deafness and communication factors that impact or influence each deaf person’s life differently in the ever-challenging hearing world.”

Whalley admits that deaf communities are continuing to shrink, meaning that they rely on specific events to meet.   

“There was a much larger number of tennis players in the 1960s with about four deaf tennis clubs in London meeting up at local parks every Sunday in the summers. Today, there’s none!

“Deaf communities are much smaller today than in the past…it’s difficult as deaf people are scattered all over the country. [However], sport such as Deaflympics is one event to bring deaf people together.”

Former Deaflympics gold medallist and National Deaf Tennis Coach, Catherine Fletcher, was among many within the deaf community to find her identity through her love of tennis, and now she works to provide the same opportunities for future generations.

“I was very lucky because I won seven National singles titles, seven doubles, and three mixed doubles,” said Fletcher. “I also got a bronze medal in the women’s doubles in 2005 in Melbourne, Australia. Then, after that, I got a gold medal at the 2009 Deaflympics.

“When I retired, the job came up for the National Deaf Coach, and applying for it felt like the right thing to do. It was a way for me to help younger deaf people also have the opportunities that I’ve had.

“For me, it’s about raising the profile of deaf people, deaf awareness, and educating the coaches and clubs.”

“Deaf tennis has been a huge part of my life and it is important to give other deaf players the opportunities that I have had. The development of deaf tennis and players is paramount in keeping deaf tennis alive. We need you coaches and tennis clubs to help us find those players and make them realise there is this amazing opportunity out there for them in deaf tennis that they might not know about in today’s increasingly more inclusive world.”

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Source: https://www.lta.org.uk/news/standards-have-improved-immensely-two-time-british-deaf-champion-bryan-whalley-discusses-the-evolution-of-deaf-tennis/