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{{short description|British wheelchair tennis player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
{{Infobox tennis biography
| name = Lucy Shuker
| name = Lucy Shuker<br><small>{{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|BEM}}</small>
| image = <!-- bare image name, no formatting -->
| image = Lucy Shuker (GBR) (21012714043).jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = <!-- brief text caption for the image -->
| caption = Shuker at the [[2015 US Open (tennis)|2015 US Open]].
| fullname =
| full_name =
| country_represented = {{GBR2}}
| country_represented = {{GBR2}}
| residence = Taunton Somerset
| residence = Fleet, Hampshire
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|05|28}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|05|28}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place = Doha, Qatar
| death_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|yyyy|mm|dd|yyyy|mm|dd}} first date is death date, second date is birth date-->
| death_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|df=yes|yyyy|mm|dd|yyyy|mm|dd}} first date is death date, second date is birth date-->
| death_place =
| death_place =
| height = <!-- {{convert|HEIGHT IN METRES|m|abbr=on}} or {{convert|FEET|ft|INCHES|in|abbr=on}} -->
| height = <!-- {{convert|HEIGHT IN METRES|m|abbr=on}} or {{convert|FEET|ft|INCHES|in|abbr=on}} -->
| weight = <!-- {{convert|WEIGHT IN KILOS|kg|abbr=on}} or {{convert|WEIGHT IN POUNDS|lb|abbr=on}} -->
| weight = <!-- {{convert|WEIGHT IN KILOS|kg|abbr=on}} or {{convert|WEIGHT IN POUNDS|lb|abbr=on}} -->
| college =
| college =
| turnedpro = 2002
| turnedpro = 2002
| retired =
| retired =
| plays = Right Handed
| plays = Right Handed
| careerprizemoney =
| careerprizemoney =
| tennishofyear = <!-- year inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame -->
| tennishofyear = <!-- year inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame -->
| tennishofid = <!-- ID from the Tennis HoF website, taken from http://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/First Name-Last Name i.e. martina-navratilova, which it is all undercase letters-->
| tennishofid = <!-- ID from the Tennis HoF website, taken from http://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/First Name-Last Name i.e. martina-navratilova, which it is all undercase letters-->
| website = <!-- official web site address like this: [http://www.site.com site.com] -->
| website = https://www.lucyshuker.com/
| singlesrecord =
| singlestitles =31
| singlestitles =
| highestsinglesranking =No.5 (25 March 2013)
⚫
| currentsinglesranking =
| highestsinglesranking =
| AustralianOpenresult = SF ([[2013 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2013]], [[2017 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2017]], [[2022 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2022]])
⚫
| currentsinglesranking =
⚫
| FrenchOpenresult = SF (2007)
| AustralianOpenresult = QF (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
| Wimbledonresult = QF ([[2016 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's singles|2016]], [[2017 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's singles|2017]], [[2018 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's singles|2018]], [[2021 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's singles|2021]], [[2022 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's singles|2022]], [[2023 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's singles|2023]])
⚫
| FrenchOpenresult = SF (2007)
| USOpenresult = QF ([[2013 US Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2013]], [[2015 US Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2015]], [[2017 US Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2017]], [[2018 US Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2018]], [[2020 US Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2020]], [[2023 US Open – Wheelchair women's singles|2023]])
| USOpenresult =
| Othertournaments = yes
| Othertournaments = yes
| WheelchairTennisMastersresult =
| WheelchairTennisMastersresult =
|Paralympicsresult = QF (2012)
| Paralympicsresult = QF (2012)
| doublesrecord =
| doublestitles =75
| doublestitles =
| highestdoublesranking =No.3 (10 June 2013)
⚫
| currentdoublesranking =
| highestdoublesranking =
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = F ([[2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2010]], [[2013 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2013]], [[2022 Australian Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2022]])
⚫
| currentdoublesranking =
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = SF ([[2008 French Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2008]], [[2009 French Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2009]], [[2016 French Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2016]])
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = F (2010)
| WimbledonDoublesresult = F ([[2009 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's doubles|2009]], [[2010 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's doubles|2010]], [[2012 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's doubles|2012]], [[2018 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's doubles|2018]], [[2021 Wimbledon Championships – Wheelchair women's doubles|2021]])
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = SF (2008, 2009)
| USOpenDoublesresult = SF ([[2013 US Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2013]], [[2015 US Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2015]], [[2017 US Open – Wheelchair women's doubles|2017]])
| WimbledonDoublesresult = F (2009, 2010, 2012)
| USOpenDoublesresult =
| OthertournamentsDoubles = yes
⚫
| WheelchairTennisMastersDoublesresult = (2016)
| OthertournamentsDoubles = yes
⚫
| ParalympicsDoublesresult = [[File: Silver medal Paralympics.svg|20px]] '''Silver medal''' (2020)
⚫
| WheelchairTennisMastersDoublesresult = F (2006, 2008, 2010)
| medals = <!-- Olympic medal templates -->
⚫
|ParalympicsDoublesresult = [[File:Bronze medal Paralympics.svg|20px]] '''Bronze Medal''' (2012)
| medaltemplates = <!-- Olympic medal templates -->
| medals-expand = <!-- expands the medaltemplates -->
⚫
| updated = <!-- adds date this template was last updated at an individual article -->
| medaltemplates-expand = <!-- expands the medaltemplates -->
|WheelchairWorldTeamCupresult=[[File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg|20px]] '''Silver Medals''' (2013, 2014)<br>[[File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg|20px]] '''Bronze Medals''' (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019)}}
⚫
| updated = <!-- adds date this template was last updated at an individual article -->
|}}


'''Lucy Jessica Shuker'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/65889468|title=King's Birthday Honours: Sarah Hunter and Ian Wright among those included|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 June 2023|access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref> {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|BEM}} (born 28 May 1980<ref name=Birth>{{cite web |title=Birthday's today |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-28.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528123823/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-28.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 May 2013 |work=The Telegraph |accessdate=24 May 2014 |date=28 May 2013 |quote=Ms Lucy Shuker, tennis player; Paralympic bronze medallist wheelchair tennis doubles, London 2012, 33}}</ref>) is a British [[wheelchair tennis]] player<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/player-profiles/lucy-shuker/ |title=Lucy Shuker – Tennis Foundation |work=Tennis Foundation |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-GB |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234359/https://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/player-profiles/lucy-shuker/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> who is currently the highest ranked woman in the sport in Britain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/6319841.stm |title=Shuker reaches Sydney last eight |department=[[BBC Sport]] |date=1 February 2007 |accessdate=15 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lta.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/377840AD-7F7E-4F9B-AB8D-264EBE846C3D/0/wr070129.pdf?BSMGuid=eedc3b90-e3a3-41f5-a91c-594c513a37f7 |title=Rankings |publisher=ITA British |accessdate=15 April 2007 |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |archivedate=27 September 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021922/http://www.lta.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/377840AD-7F7E-4F9B-AB8D-264EBE846C3D/0/wr070129.pdf?BSMGuid=eedc3b90-e3a3-41f5-a91c-594c513a37f7}}</ref> A previous singles and doubles National Champion, Shuker has represented Great Britain at four successive [[Paralympic Games]], twice winning a bronze medal in the women's doubles and is former world doubles champion and World Team Cup silver medallist amongst a number of other national and international successes.
'''Lucy Shuker''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[wheelchair tennis]]player who is currently the highest ranking woman in the sport in Britain<ref>BBC Sport [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/6319841.stm article]</ref><ref>ITA British [http://www.lta.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/377840AD-7F7E-4F9B-AB8D-264EBE846C3D/0/wr070129.pdf?BSMGuid=eedc3b90-e3a3-41f5-a91c-594c513a37f7 rankings] (pdf) retrieved on 15 April 2007</ref> and winner of both singles and doubles titles in the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships following a 2001 motorbike accident that left her paralysed. She is currently ranked 10th<ref name="article">RHC Professional [http://www.rhcprofessional.co.uk/sports/ article] retrieved on 15 April 2007</ref> in the world rankings for doubles matches and 12th in singles.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">BBC Sport [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/4413054.stm article] retrieved on 15 April 2007</ref> She was also the recipient of the 2005 British Wheelchair Sports Award, the nominee for the 2006 Disabled Player of the Year award, and the semi-finalist in tournaments in both [[Switzerland]] and the [[United States]].<ref>Lawn Tennis Association [http://www.lta.org.uk/Newsroom/TheLtaAwards/Disabled/ShukerLucy.htm?BSMGuid=5465deaa-1e7a-4a7b-af64-94decd64225e article] retrieved on 15 April 2007</ref>


⚫
In 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/lucy-shuker |title=ParalympicsGB {{!}} Lucy shuker|website=ParalympicsGB|language=en|access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> she competed in the singles and doubles events for the first time in [[Wheelchair tennis at the Beijing Paralympics]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7521515.stm |title=Shuker hopes for Beijing medals |department=BBC Sport |accessdate=7 September 2008}}</ref>
Currently living near [[Taunton]], [[Somerset]], Shuker states that she is aiming to take part in the [[2012 Olympics]].<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/><ref>BBC Somerset [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2006/06/01/lucy_shuker_interview_feature.shtml article] retrieved on 15 April 2007</ref> In early 2007 Shuker reached the quarter finals stage of the Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open.<ref name="article"/>


Shuker made history at the [[London 2012 Paralympics]] alongside fellow Briton [[Jordanne Whiley]] when the pair became the first women to win a medal for Great Britain in wheelchair tennis, coming from match point down to secure bronze in the women's doubles event.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/9529037/Paralympics-2012-Lucy-Shuker-and-Jordanne-Whiley-survive-match-point-to-win-bronze.html |title=Paralympics 2012: Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley survive match point to win bronze |last=Sport |first=Telegraph |journal=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 September 2012 |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www3.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/Olympics/News/2012/Brit-duo-fight-back-to-claim-bronze/ |title=Shuker and Whiley fight back to claim bronze – LTA |website=www3.lta.org.uk |language=en-gb |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>
⚫
In 2008, she competed in the singles and doubles events in [[Wheelchair tennis at the Beijing Paralympics]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7521515.stm ''Shuker hopes for Beijing medals''] [[BBC News]] retrieved 7 September 2008</ref>


Shuker and Whiley retained their bronze medal status in the women's wheelchair doubles at the 2016 [[Rio Paralympic Games|Paralympic Games in Rio]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ontrackmagazine.co.uk/day-six-reviewday-seven-preview-of-rio-2016-paralympics/ |title=Day six review/Day seven preview of Rio 2016 Paralympics – OnTrack Magazine |last=ontrack2016 |date=14 September 2016 |work=OnTrack Magazine |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730233154/http://www.ontrackmagazine.co.uk/day-six-reviewday-seven-preview-of-rio-2016-paralympics/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2012, she reached the finals of Women's wheelchair doubles at Wimbledon along with partner [[Jordanne Whiley]], losing to [[Jiske Griffioen]] and Aniek van Koot, 1-6, 2-6.<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18763451|title=Wimbledon 2012: Lucy Shuker & Jordanne Whiley lose final|accessdate=2012-07-14}}</ref>

==Early life==
Shuker was born in [[Doha|Doha, Qatar]], but grew up in [[Fleet, Hampshire]]. She comes from a badminton-playing family and started played badminton at an early age before going on to represent Hampshire County at national competitions, alongside her brother Matthew Shuker, who held a career high world ranking of no.43 in men's singles.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/index.php?threads/customworqs.119194/page-2 |title=Customworqs |work=BadmintonCentral |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Shuker also had a love of horse riding until she had a motorbike accident at the age of 21 which left her paralysed from the T4 vertebra.<ref name="youtube.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eJHTF1f0xI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/-eJHTF1f0xI |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Lucy Shuker – #1 in Great Britain}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Tennis career ==
Shuker started playing wheelchair tennis in 2002, less than 12 months after her life-changing motorbike accident.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-40492329 |title=The tennis players who play by different rules |last=Coomes |first=Beth Rose and Phil |date=8 July 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref> She was introduced to the sport by former Quad World No.#1 [[Peter Norfolk|Pete 'Quadfather' Norfolk]] during the process of buying her first wheelchair.

In 2013, Shuker became the first British wheelchair tennis player to compete at all four major [[Tennis Grand Slam]]s in the same year when she competed at the US Open in New York, the same year that she obtained her highest singles ranking to date of world no.5.

In 2016, Shuker won her first Doubles Masters title, partnering [[Diede de Groot]] to the title.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/follow-brits-doubles-masters-california/ |title=Cotterill, Lapthorne and Shuker net Doubles Masters titles – Tennis Foundation |date=7 November 2016 |work=Tennis Foundation |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-GB }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37895371 |title=Wheelchair tennis: British trio land Doubles Masters crowns |date=7 November 2016 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2018, she made a return to a Grand Slam final when she partnered Sabine Ellerbrock to reach the Wimbledon doubles final, and in 2021 she also reached the Australian Open doubles final with South African partner [[Kgothatso Montjane]]. In January 2019, Shuker and Montjane reached the semi-finals of the women's wheelchair doubles at the [[Australian Open]], but were defeated by second seeds [[Marjolein Buis]] and [[Sabine Ellerbrock]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/46999168 |title=Australian Open 2019: GB's Lucy Shuker loses in wheelchair doubles semi-final |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=25 January 2019 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In June 2021, she and [[Jordanne Whiley]] were among six tennis players named to represent the UK at the postponed [[2020 Paralympics]] in Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tennis365 |date=2021-06-24 |title=Reigning Paralympic champion Gordon Reid named in Team GB wheelchair squad for Tokyo |url=https://www.tennis365.com/news/reigning-champion-gordon-reid-named-in-gb-wheelchair-tennis-paralympics-squad/ |access-date=2021-06-24 |website=Tennis365 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Shuker was awarded the [[British Empire Medal]] (BEM) in the [[2023 Birthday Honours]] for services to sport.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64082|supp=y|page=B35|date=17 June 2023}}</ref>

On 19 July 2024, Shuker was selected for her fifth Paralympics when she was named in the Great Britain team for the Paris edition later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/24462387.dorsets-lucy-shuker-called-paralympics-gb/|title=Dorset's Lucy Shuker called up by Paralympics GB|date=19 July 2024 |publisher=Bournemouth Echo|accessdate=19 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://paralympics.org.uk/articles/paralympicsgb-announces-wheelchair-tennis-squad-for-paris-20|title=ParalympicsGB announces Wheelchair tennis squad for Paris 2024|publisher=ParalympicsGB|accessdate=19 July 2024}}</ref> Shuker was selected to be the flag bearer for Great Britain for the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Jon |title=Joyous queer vibes at Paralympics opening ceremony |url=https://www.outsports.com/2024/8/28/24100801/paralympics-opening-ceremony-christine-and-the-queens-paris-2024-team-lgbtq/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=OutSports |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Shuker graduated with a BSc Hons in the science and management of exercise and health from the [[University of Surrey]] in 2001.

In 2011, she was named the Vitalise Woman of Achievement, and collected the award from disability charity Vitalise in recognition of her achievements in the world of disabled sport.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/109754/shuker-presented-with-vitalise-woman-of-achievement-award |title=Shuker presented with Vitalise Woman of Achievement Award |date=19 October 2011 |access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref>

On 8 November 2017, Shuker was awarded an [[Honorary degree|honorary]] [[Doctor of Arts|doctorate of arts]] from [[Bournemouth University]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/news/2017-11-08/honorary-doctorate-lucy-shuker |title=Honorary Doctorate Lucy Shuker |department=Bournemouth University |accessdate=17 November 2017}}</ref>

Shuker is a part of the LGBTQ+ community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Out LGBTQ Paralympians at the 2024 Paris Summer Games |url=https://www.outsports.com/paralympics/team-lgbtq/?country=%F0%9F%87%AC%F0%9F%87%A7&sport=Wheelchair+Tennis&competition_category=#database |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=OutSports |language=en}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/players/activity.asp?player=100046979 Career Record]
* {{ITF profile}}
* {{IPC profile}}
* {{BPA profile}}
* {{Wimbledon player}}


{{Wheelchair Tennis Masters Women's Doubles}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Shuker, Lucy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =Tennis player
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shuker, Lucy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shuker, Lucy}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English female tennis players]]
[[Category:British female tennis players]]
[[Category:British female tennis players]]
[[Category:English tennis players]]
[[Category:British wheelchair tennis players]]
[[Category:People from Taunton]]
[[Category:Paralympic wheelchair tennis players for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Paralympic wheelchair tennis players of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Paralympic medalists in wheelchair tennis]]
[[Category:Wheelchair tennis players]]
[[Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Wheelchair tennis players at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hampshire]]

[[Category:People with paraplegia]]

[[Category:People from Doha]]
{{England-tennis-bio-stub}}
[[Category:People from Fleet, Hampshire]]
[[Category:Recipients of the British Empire Medal]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Surrey]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]

Latest revision as of 23:18, 12 December 2024

Lucy Shuker
BEM
Shuker at the 2015 US Open.
Country (sports) Great Britain
ResidenceFleet, Hampshire
Born (1980-05-28) 28 May 1980 (age 44)
Doha, Qatar
Turned pro2002
PlaysRight Handed
Official websitehttps://www.lucyshuker.com/
Singles
Career record446–290
Career titles31
Highest rankingNo.5 (25 March 2013)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (2013, 2017, 2022)
French OpenSF (2007)
WimbledonQF (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
US OpenQF (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023)
Other tournaments
Paralympic GamesQF (2012)
Doubles
Career record403–221
Career titles75
Highest rankingNo.3 (10 June 2013)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (2010, 2013, 2022)
French OpenSF (2008, 2009, 2016)
WimbledonF (2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2021)
US OpenSF (2013, 2015, 2017)
Other doubles tournaments
Masters Doubles(2016)
Paralympic Games Silver medal (2020)
World Team Cup Silver Medals (2013, 2014)
Bronze Medals (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019)

Lucy Jessica Shuker[1] BEM (born 28 May 1980[2]) is a British wheelchair tennis player[3] who is currently the highest ranked woman in the sport in Britain.[4][5] A previous singles and doubles National Champion, Shuker has represented Great Britain at four successive Paralympic Games, twice winning a bronze medal in the women's doubles and is former world doubles champion and World Team Cup silver medallist amongst a number of other national and international successes.

In 2008,[6] she competed in the singles and doubles events for the first time in Wheelchair tennis at the Beijing Paralympics.[7]

Shuker made history at the London 2012 Paralympics alongside fellow Briton Jordanne Whiley when the pair became the first women to win a medal for Great Britain in wheelchair tennis, coming from match point down to secure bronze in the women's doubles event.[8][9]

Shuker and Whiley retained their bronze medal status in the women's wheelchair doubles at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.[10]

Early life

[edit]

Shuker was born in Doha, Qatar, but grew up in Fleet, Hampshire. She comes from a badminton-playing family and started played badminton at an early age before going on to represent Hampshire County at national competitions, alongside her brother Matthew Shuker, who held a career high world ranking of no.43 in men's singles.[11] Shuker also had a love of horse riding until she had a motorbike accident at the age of 21 which left her paralysed from the T4 vertebra.[12]

Tennis career

[edit]

Shuker started playing wheelchair tennis in 2002, less than 12 months after her life-changing motorbike accident.[13] She was introduced to the sport by former Quad World No.#1 Pete 'Quadfather' Norfolk during the process of buying her first wheelchair.

In 2013, Shuker became the first British wheelchair tennis player to compete at all four major Tennis Grand Slams in the same year when she competed at the US Open in New York, the same year that she obtained her highest singles ranking to date of world no.5.

In 2016, Shuker won her first Doubles Masters title, partnering Diede de Groot to the title.[14][15]

In 2018, she made a return to a Grand Slam final when she partnered Sabine Ellerbrock to reach the Wimbledon doubles final, and in 2021 she also reached the Australian Open doubles final with South African partner Kgothatso Montjane. In January 2019, Shuker and Montjane reached the semi-finals of the women's wheelchair doubles at the Australian Open, but were defeated by second seeds Marjolein Buis and Sabine Ellerbrock.[16]

In June 2021, she and Jordanne Whiley were among six tennis players named to represent the UK at the postponed 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.[17]

Shuker was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to sport.[18]

On 19 July 2024, Shuker was selected for her fifth Paralympics when she was named in the Great Britain team for the Paris edition later that year.[19][20] Shuker was selected to be the flag bearer for Great Britain for the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony.[21]

Personal life

[edit]

Shuker graduated with a BSc Hons in the science and management of exercise and health from the University of Surrey in 2001.

In 2011, she was named the Vitalise Woman of Achievement, and collected the award from disability charity Vitalise in recognition of her achievements in the world of disabled sport.[22]

On 8 November 2017, Shuker was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts from Bournemouth University.[23]

Shuker is a part of the LGBTQ+ community.[24]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "King's Birthday Honours: Sarah Hunter and Ian Wright among those included". BBC Sport. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2014. Ms Lucy Shuker, tennis player; Paralympic bronze medallist wheelchair tennis doubles, London 2012, 33
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  8. ^ Sport, Telegraph (7 September 2012). "Paralympics 2012: Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley survive match point to win bronze". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Shuker and Whiley fight back to claim bronze – LTA". www3.lta.org.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. ^ ontrack2016 (14 September 2016). "Day six review/Day seven preview of Rio 2016 Paralympics – OnTrack Magazine". OnTrack Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  17. ^ Tennis365 (24 June 2021). "Reigning Paralympic champion Gordon Reid named in Team GB wheelchair squad for Tokyo". Tennis365. Retrieved 24 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  19. ^ "Dorset's Lucy Shuker called up by Paralympics GB". Bournemouth Echo. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  20. ^ "ParalympicsGB announces Wheelchair tennis squad for Paris 2024". ParalympicsGB. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  21. ^ Holmes, Jon. "Joyous queer vibes at Paralympics opening ceremony". OutSports. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
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  23. ^ "Honorary Doctorate Lucy Shuker". Bournemouth University. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Out LGBTQ Paralympians at the 2024 Paris Summer Games". OutSports. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
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