Published: Friday, 29th August, 2008 14:10
Tennis ace makes Beijing medal bid
By By Fiona Howard
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HOPES: Provost Billy Petrie wishes Gordon well in his Olympian quest.
A LITTLE lucky white heather from a Helensburgh garden was winging its way to Beijing with Great Britain’s Paralympic team today (Friday) — in the pocket of Burgh Olympic hope Gordon Reid.
The 16-year-old wheelchair tennis player was flying out to the Chinese venue to play in the men’s tennis event.
He will be part of the eight-man tennis squad and will be the youngest boy in the team.
The Hermitage Academy pupil — who takes his success in the very laid back manner of all 16-year-olds — admitted this week that having watched the main Olympics he is now getting “quite excited” about his trip to Beijing.
He said this week: “I am getting more excited now and am really looking forward to going. It will be good to see some of the other sports as well and I am particularly hoping to see the wheelchair basketball.”
And as he began his preparations Gordon received a visit from Provost Billy Petrie who presented him with white heather from his own garden.
The Provost also revealed that a civic reception hosted by Argyll and Bute Council will be held on his return, to mark his achievements.
The Provost said:” I have been watching Gordon’s progress for some time now and I was absolutely certain he would make it to Beijing.
“On behalf of the community of Helensburgh and Argyll and Bute Council I would like to wish him every success, and I will be keeping my fingers crossed for him!”
Gordon was a promising young member of Helensburgh Lawn Tennis Club when he was diagnosed with the spinal condition Transverse Myelitis and club members along with other townspeople got together to raise enough money to buy him the special wheelchair he needs to continue his tennis.
Such was the success of that fund raising effort that Gordon got a wheelchair and so did another young wheelchair tennis player!
Less than two years after requiring a wheelchair he had risen to the top 100 in the men’s singles world rankings and won the men’s second draw of the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships — the same level as a Grand Slam event like Wimbledon.
He became Britain’s youngest men’s singles national champion in 2007, aged 15, is now 36th in the world singles ranking and the world’s number two junior.
Gordon now trains at the West of Scotland Institute of Sport two or three times a week to develop his strength.
His twin brothers Stephen and David (14), sister Emily (18), mum and dad Alison and Graham and other members of Gordon’s family will be flying out to Beijing next week to support him.
His mum said: “We are going for most of the three weeks so plan to do a bit of sightseeing as well, the Great Wall, the Hidden City and Beijing itself.
“We will be able to meet up in the Lodge, which is a kind of half way house between the Olympic Village and the city itself, and see Gordon there although he will be staying with the rest of the team.”
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