The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum has been honoured with the Celebrating Disability and Neurodivergent Sporting Heritage Award for its outstanding wheelchair tennis display.
Located at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, the museum was recognised for its commitment to showcasing the history and impact of wheelchair tennis.
The display, unveiled in 2020 to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, has significantly raised the profile of the sport.
Emma Traherne, senior curator at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, said: “We are thrilled to have won the Celebrating Disability and Neurodivergent Sporting Heritage Award for our display.
“Through film, artistic photography, and authentic objects, we celebrate the remarkable achievements and resilience of disabled athletes.
“Their stories inspire all our visitors.”
The exhibit offers a rich history of wheelchair tennis, from its early days to its current success.
Visitors can explore items from Grand Slam champions such as Jordanne Whiley MBE and Gordon Reid OBE.
The display also features a large screen showing wheelchair tennis footage from The Championships and an interactive touchscreen detailing the technology behind sports wheelchairs and the science of athlete preparation.
The content is updated regularly with stories of new talents and developments in the sport.
Photographic artist Clare Newton collaborated with the museum to create visually engaging works that highlight the triumphs of wheelchair tennis players.
The museum also worked with international disability inclusion charity, Motivation, to spotlight the development of affordable sports wheelchairs.
Dr Justine Reilly, managing director of Sporting Heritage CIC, said: “The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum’s dedication to recognising the contributions and triumphs of individuals from all walks of life sets a powerful example.
“Their permanent exhibition is a testament to preserving and honouring the sporting heritage of wheelchair tennis.”
In light of the growing popularity of wheelchair tennis, the All England Club recently announced an expansion of the draws for the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Wheelchair singles and doubles at The Championships 2024.
The singles draws will increase from 8 to 16 players, and the doubles draws from 4 to 8 teams, with the competition starting a day earlier on 9 July.
