With a summer of sport underway and Wimbledon and the Paralympics coming up, our Editor Melissa Holmes caught up with two sporting pros at the top of their game
What does sport mean to you? That’s the question I pose to Lily Mills, the 23-year-old tennis player who has represented Team GB at the Special Olympics. “Tennis is my life,” she replies. “If I didn’t play tennis, my life would be really boring.”
Lily’s life is far from boring – she’s travelling the world representing her country at the highest level of learning disability sport. From bagging a wildcard slot at the Australian Open’s Persons with Intellectual Impairments Championships, to becoming a three-time Special Olympics World Games gold medallist, it’s game, set and match for Lily’s sporting achievements.
EXCITEMENT AT FEVER PITCH
Next on her agenda is playing in France in September for the Virtus World Tennis Championships. Someone else who’s heading to France soon is track star Thomas Young. “I can’t wait to go to Paris in a couple of months’ time to compete again at the Paralympics,” he told me, his enthusiasm as broad as the smile on his face. “I’m really excited,” he admits. Tom, whose first Paralympic competition took place in Tokyo during lockdown, meaning he had no in-stadium family support, said: “I know what to expect now, and I know what I can achieve. And, with the Games being so close to home, my friends and family can just get a train across to Paris from the UK and come.”
Thomas told Enable that his training is going really well. “I can’t wait to defend my title in August,” he says. At the time of our interview, Tom was playing his way around Europe competing in various athletic events, before making his way back to the UK for more training, then out to Paris for the Paralympic Games. “I can’t wait to see the Stade de France with 64,000 people in there in 10 weeks’ time,” he told us.
SUPER MOVERS
Thomas, who was awarded an MBE in 2021, has neurofibromatosis type 1, which affects his coordination. He’s recently been involved in a campaign called Super Movers for Everybody, which aims to inspire young disabled people into sport. “With the younger generation being so tempted to play on their Xboxes all day and be on social media, if they can get into sports from a young age, they could go through the levels and eventually, hopefully, make it as far as they can – like I have,” enthuses Tom. “Or they can enjoy doing fitness as a hobby, because it’s so important for mental health.”
Soon after being born, Lily contracted meningitis and later sepsis. She was then diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called galactosaemia. She started playing tennis at the age of three and, although finding an accessible club and inclusive coach initially proved difficult, she’s now playing at the highest level. “I’m super proud of her,” reveals Lily’s mum, Tallulah. “She’s amazing. Her tennis coach says he’s learned so much from her; as much as she’s learned from him. She’s so enthusiastic and never gives up. And it’s given her such a good life – tennis has been amazing for Lily.”
Tom, who turns 24 in July, began his athletics journey in primary school, working his way up through different age groups and clubs to eventually work with Joe, a Paralympic coach. “Joe has taken me from being a club athlete to winning gold at the Paralympic Games,” he explains. “Being involved in athletics has opened up so much. It’s given me a job, and I get to go to so many events in different places, like Japan and Dubai. I’m even studying a sports coaching degree at Loughborough University. I think that when you’re physically fit, I believe you’re mentally fit and mentally happy as well.”
A CHANCE TO SHINE
Tallulah only has positive things to say about the effect sport has had on Lily’s life. “Anyone can take up sport,” she says, “and you can meet friends, you can enjoy it. To me, it’s more important than academia. It gives people a chance to shine and achieve.”
There’s no doubt that any kind of physical activity has holistic health benefits for everyone, no matter what level you’re playing your sport at, or what kind of movement you’re doing – from housework to boccia or track sports.
So, to people looking at getting involved in sport or trying something new, Lily says: “Just don’t give up on your dream.” Tom echoes similar advice. “Just never, ever give up,” he says. “If you want to be involved in sports and give it a go… you don’t have to be a world beater, you don’t have to be a champion. But everyone is born a champion – it’s about finding out what you’re a champion at. You don’t have to be a gold medallist in sports, you could just be involved in sports. And if you enjoy that, then you’re a champion.”