Deaflympian Fiona Brookes, Chair of the British Deaf Tennis Association, has been named by UK Deaf Sport as the GB Chef de Mission for the 22nd Summer Deaflympics, which takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 26th July to 4th August.
The 47-year-old from Reigate in Surrey, has competed in two Deaflympics, and won two silvers in badminton, but has also represented Great Britain at tennis. Her Deaflympic career spans from 1985 in Los Angeles to 2001 in Rome, where she narrowly missed out on a women's doubles bronze medal after an all-British play-off.
Fiona, who is a three-time women's singles National champion is the mother of Bethany Brookes, who recently emulated her mother by also winning her third women's singles National title at the 2013 National Deaf Tennis Championships, following previous wins in 2010 and 2011.
"It is a real honour to be taking on this role, and I was delighted to be asked," said Fiona, who also won a women's doubles silver medal at the age of 15 in her first major international tennis event at the 1985 European Deaf Tennis Championships before adding a women's doubles bronze medal at the 2000 European Championships. "Having been involved mainly on the tennis scene for many years, it will be interesting to work with the other sports, and ensure that the whole of Team GB is given every opportunity to do its utmost and bring those medals home!"
Britain finished 26th in the medal table in at the 21st Deaflympics in Taipei in 2009 and hope to improve on that placing in Sofia with a team of 48 competitors challenging for top honours in eight different sports, including tennis.
"On behalf of the Tennis Foundation I would like to congratulate Fiona on her appointment as GB Chef de Mission for the Sofia Deaflympics," said Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation's Head of Disability Player Performance. "Fiona has a wealth of experience as an international athlete and as an administrator that I'm sure will be of great benefit to the UK Deaf Sport delegation and Great Britain team of athletes in its preparations for Sofia.
"We are thrilled that Fiona's legacy as a tennis player is being carried on through her daughter Bethany and our aim is to send the best prepared squad of tennis players to Sofia, guided by our newly appointed Great Britain Deaf Tennis Coach Catherine Fletcher, who won gold in the mixed doubles at the last Deaflympics in 2009," added Richards.
UK Deaf Sport Chair, Philip Gerrard commented: "We are delighted that Fiona has agreed to lead Team GB in Sofia. This ties in with our long-term plans for improving high-performance opportunities for deaf sport."
Find out more about the Deaflympics here (link opens in new window).
Share