Peter Norfolk was recognised as one of Great Britain’s most successful athletes at the 2011 Sports Journalists’ Association Awards in London yesterday.
The double Paralympic gold-medallist won the Bill McGowran Trophy, the world’s oldest annual award to recognise the achievement of an athlete with a disability.
Norfolk has lost only five singles matches in a year where he picked up three Super Series titles at the British Open, USTA US Open and Florida Open. He also reached the finals of both the Australian and US Open Grand Slams.
In doubles the world no. 2 teamed up with British no.2 Andrew Lapthorne to win the quad title at the Australian Open back in January before also picking up the US Super Series crown to make it a very successful 2011.
Only injury forced Norfolk out of the year-end Singles and Doubles Masters last month but he is confident of being fully fit next year when he goes for his third consecutive quad singles title at the London 2012 Paralympics.
The Tennis Foundation's Executive Director Geoff Newton said: “This award is recognition of the hard work that Pete continues to put into his tennis after a number of years at the top of his sport.
“He is an excellent role model for anyone wanting to compete on the wheelchair tennis tour and we wish him a very successful 2012.”
The SJA poll has been in existence since 1949, but the association’s committee also make additional awards in recognition of British sporting excellence.
Other winners on the day included world swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, who won Sportswoman of the Year, and Britain’s most successful Tour de France cyclist Mark Cavendish, who was voted Sportsman of the Year.