Welsh tennis player Shain Lewis is celebrating after winning bronze in the singles and doubles at the Special Olympics Summer Games in Athens.
Shain, aged 19, of Builth Wells, was among 150 learning-disabled athletes representing GB against 7,000 others from 180 countries.
Shain joined the tennis squads at Crickhowell Tennis Club and the Brecon coaching centre some two years ago under head coach Chris Hill. Shain has since helped Chris delivering Mini-tennis coaching sessions at Crickhowell and in his home town of Builth Wells, and has now gained a level 1 coaching qualification.
Before leaving for Athens, Shain was among the athletes invited to meet Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street.
“Wow!” he said, “I was speechless meeting the Prime Minister. He told me he had just been watching Nadal v Federer!
“Special Olympics has given me the chance to represent my country, not only Wales,” added Shain. “I feel it is an honour to play tennis for Great Britain. I want to show people that with a disability, you can achieve the same as others. Since I joined Special Olympics three years ago, I have trained harder and have met so many new friends and for the first time became part of a team.”
Peter Drew, chief executive of Tennis Wales commented: “This is a wonderful achievement for Shain. He has shown that he has a talent for tennis as a player and as a coach, and is a great example to others.”