Ben Weekes
![]() 2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | Australian |
Born | (1984-09-20) 20 September 1984 (age 39) |
Website | www |
Sport | |
Country | ![]() |
Sport | Wheelchair tennis |
Ben Weekes (born 20 September 1984) is an Australian wheelchair tennis player. He has been selected for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, his sixth Games.[1]
Personal
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/020912_-_Benjamin_Weekes_-_3b_-_2012_Summer_Paralympics_%2801%29.jpg/299px-020912_-_Benjamin_Weekes_-_3b_-_2012_Summer_Paralympics_%2801%29.jpg)
Weekes was born on 20 September 1984 in Strathfield, New South Wales.[2][3] He has an identical twin brother, and two other brothers.[2] He is an incomplete paraplegic as a result of a blood clot forming in his spine when he was thirteen years old.[2][4] He is a composer and pianist, having received formal training in this area.[2][4] His music has been recorded and he has played at the BarMe Cabaret Bar, Angel Place and the Sydney Opera House.[2][4]
Other sports he participates in are swimming and basketball.[2]
Tennis
Weekes is a wheelchair tennis player.[2][5] When playing, he follows the same rules as his non-disabled counterparts except the ball is allowed to bounce twice.[6][7] He became interested in the sport after watching David Hall play it at the 2000 Summer Paralympics,[2][4] and would go on to practice regularly with Hall, until Hall retired from the sport in 2006.[4] He has been coached by Kathy Fahim.[4]
Weekes first represented Australia in 2002.[2] That year, he competed in the Junior World Cup where he finished second.[2] At the 2004 World Cup, his team finished second.[2] He competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. He won his first-round match,[2] and was knocked out in the second round.[2][3]
Weekes competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, playing doubles with Michael Dobbie.[2][3][5] Going into the 2008 Games, he practised twice a day on court, six times a week.[4] In 2008, Weekes played some doubles matches with Adam Kellerman.[8]
At the 2011 South African Open, he made the finals.[2] At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, he made the second round of the men's singles and he teamed with Adam Kellerman in the men's doubles. They lost in the first round.[9][3][6][8] In the doubles event, he is due to be partnered by Adam Kellerman.[7][8]
At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Weekes lost to Stefan Olsson (SWE) 0-2 (0–6, 3–6) in the round of 32 in the Men's Singles and with Adam Kellerman lost in the round of 16 in the Men's Doubles.[10]
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Weekes lost in the Round of 32 in the Men's Singles and Doubles.
References
- ^ "Australia's Wheelchair Tennis Quartet Confirmed For Tokyo 2020". Paralympics Australia. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Ben Weekes". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d Murray, Oliver. "Ben aims to deliver at Paralympics". Inner West Courier. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Tennis – Sports – Olympics". Melbourne: The Age. 2 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ a b Olivia McGrath (10 September 2008). "Australia up to 26 medals". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Paralympic dream comes true for Kendall tennis club player". CCamden Haven Courier. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b Chen, Torin (28 June 2012). "Adam's Paralympic dream — Tennis". North Shore Times. Sydney. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Chen, Torin. "Adam the ace set for medal". North Shore Times. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Ben Weekes". International Paralympic Committee Historical Results Database. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ "Ben Weekes". Rio Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Ben Weekes at Paralympics Australia
- Ben Weekes at Tennis Australia
- Ben Weekes at the International Tennis Federation
- Ben Weekes at the International Paralympic Committee
- v
- t
- e
- Sam Carter
- Aaron Chatman
- Jaryd Clifford
- Gabriel Cole
- Richard Colman
- Brayden Davidson
- Guy Henly
- Todd Hodgetts
- Nicholas Hum
- Kurt Fearnley
- Deon Kenzie
- Jake Lappin
- Rheed McCracken
- Sam McIntosh
- Evan O'Hanlon
- Chad Perris
- Scott Reardon
- Michael Roeger
- Jayden Sawyer
- Russell Short
- Brad Scott
- James Turner
- Jesse Wyatt
- Rae Anderson
- Angie Ballard
- Carlee Beattie
- Erin Cleaver
- Tamsin Colley
- Brianna Coop
- Christie Dawes
- Madison de Rozario
- Taylor Doyle
- Jodi Elkington-Jones
- Louise Ellery
- Nicole Harris
- Madeleine Hogan
- Isis Holt
- Torita Isaac
- Claire Keefer
- Rosemary Little
- Brydee Moore
- Jemima Moore
- Ella Pardy
- Kath Proudfoot
- Sarah Walsh
- Daniel Michel
- Ashlee McClure (Ramp Assistant)
- Kyle Bridgwood
- Carol Cooke
- Alistair Donohoe
- David Edwards (pilot)
- Matthew Formston
- Jessica Gallagher
- Madison Janssen (pilot)
- Simone Kennedy
- Alexandra Lisney
- Kieran Modra
- David Nicholas
- Amanda Reid
- Susan Powell
- Stuart Tripp
- Nick Yallouris (pilot)
- Emma Booth
- Sharon Jarvis
- Lisa Martin
- Katie Umback
- Nic Beveridge
- Bill Chaffey
- Brant Garvey
- Kate Doughty
- Katie Kelly
- Michellie Jones (guide)
- Claire McLean
- Gavin Bellis
- Erik Horrie
- Brock Ingram
- Jeremy McGrath
- Josephine Burnand
- Davinia Lefroy
- Kathleen Murdoch
- Kathryn Ross
- Matthew Bugg
- Daniel Fitzgibbon
- Liesl Tesch
- Russell Boaden
- Colin Harrison
- Jonathan Harris
- Luke Cain
- Bradley Mark
- Chris Pitt
- Anton Zappelli
- Libby Kosmala
- Natalie Smith
- Miro Sipek
- Joshua Alford
- Michael Anderson
- Jesse Aungles
- Liam Bekric
- Blake Cochrane
- Rowan Crothers
- Timothy Disken
- Daniel Fox
- Matthew Haanappel
- Brenden Hall
- Guy Harrison-Murray
- Timothy Hodge
- Braedan Jason
- Ahmed Kelly
- Matthew Levy
- Jeremy McClure
- Rick Pendleton
- Logan Powell
- Sean Russo
- Liam Schluter
- Jacob Templeton
- Emily Beecroft
- Ellie Cole
- Katja Dedekind
- Maddison Elliott
- Tanya Huebner
- Jenna Jones
- Paige Leonhardt
- Ashleigh McConnell
- Monique Murphy
- Lakeisha Patterson
- Madeleine Scott
- Tiffany Thomas Kane
- Rachael Watson
- Prue Watt
- Kate Wilson
- Brendan Keogh
- Ryley Batt
- Chris Bond
- Cameron Carr
- Andrew Edmondson
- Nazim Erdem
- Ben Fawcett
- Andrew Harrison
- Josh Hose
- Jason Lees
- Matt Lewis
- Ryan Scott
- Jayden Warn
- Brad Dubberley
- Dylan Alcott
- Heath Davidson
- Adam Kellerman
- Ben Weekes
- Sarah Calati