Lauren Jones
Member at: Worthing
Sport: Tennis
Getting to
know me
Lauren Jones was a keen footballer until suffering a terrible accident in June 2009, when she fell 20 feet from a tree. She suffered a broken back and was left paralysed from the waist down. Just four months later, Lauren tried wheelchair tennis. This year, the 16-year-old was ranked 7th among the world's junior girls and number one in Great Britain. How are you currently using the facilities at David Lloyd Leisure Worthing?
David Lloyd is my second home. I have tennis lessons at David Lloyd's totaling 10 hours a week minimum, then added court time with family and friends plus a bit of table tennis in my spare time (also not forgetting a fair share of eating at the cafe).
When did you first realise you had a talent and in which sport?
I first realised I had talent in wheelchair tennis when I first tried the sport in Stoke Mandeville Hospital about four months after my accident. Obviously, it was my first try at the sport and, as you can imagine, I was not that great, but hitting the occasional sweet shot gave me confidence and made me want to improve and take up the sport.
How did you get started in your sport?
I started wheelchair tennis in Stoke Mandeville Hospital as part of a physio timetable to aid me in my recovery after breaking my back. After lightly training a couple of times, I was asked to go to a Paralympic training day at Brunel University with an aim of trying out different sports. While there I was spotted for having talent and started to train and attend a couple of local tournaments. After my first training session at David Lloyd's with coach Andrew Cook I realised just how much I loved the sport and the fact that this was the perfect opportunity to rekindle my competitive nature, after thinking I had no way of doing so when my footballing career came to a halt after my accident.
What has been your greatest challenge or obstacle to overcome?
Quite obviously, the greatest challenge I have had to overcome was breaking my back. Before my accident I was a keen footballer with clear aims of England ladies and when this was no longer possible after I fell 20ft from a tree I thought any chance of sport was obviously over. But after discovering wheelchair tennis, my competitiveness and will to win, I was soon back where I wanted to be and heavily involved in the world of sport.
What is your ultimate sporting goal?
My ultimate sporting goal is to win a gold medal in the Paralympic games.
What has been your most memorable sporting moment in your career to date and why?
My most memorable sporting moment was when I first won the junior singles girls' title. I had been competing to win the junior girls since I started playing and after a couple of months when I gained both more experience and skill I achieved this. I was very happy with this as it was the start of what I hope to be many more titles.
Who is the most influential person in your career to date and why?
The most influential person in my career is my coach Andrew Cook. I completely trust his knowledge and opinion and together I hope and aim to achieve great things!
Are you from a sporting family? Do you do sport together?
My family and I have always played sport together. Before my accident when I was a footballer I would train everyday with my dad and brother, and then this continued right after my accident when I first took up tennis.
Which professional athlete (past or present) do you admire most and why?
The athlete I most admire is Roger Federer. Roger is a great role model for everyone out there; he has composure, talent and is a great entertainer. I love to watch him play and always try to learn from his attitude, composure and mentality on the court.
If you were Minister for Sport, what would you do to get more families involved in sport?
I would get more sport in schools; although there has been a huge improvement in PE and sport in schools, there is still room for progression. If the children are enjoying sport, then they will ask friends and family to come and play with them. Even if no-one is available there will still be clubs where children could have lessons or join a team.
How much did your parents guide or encourage you to take up sport?
Although I have always loved and played sport, and I am sure it would not have taken that much for me to become involved in a sport at an early age, I was guided by my parents. My dad and I have always played sport together and he had me kicking a ball when I had literally only just learned to walk.
