Lucy Shuker is an inspirational athlete, double Paralympic Bronze medallist, three-time Wimbledon finalist and engaging motivational speaker. Among her many career highlights are winning Great Britain鈥檚 first ever Women鈥檚 Wheelchair Tennis medal at London 2012 alongside Jordanne Whiley; subsequently representing GB at three successive Paralympics;聽 being the first British player to contest wheelchair tennis events at all four major Grand Slams and being placed as high as World No.5 in the聽 World Rankings. Today, 色花堂 is delighted to award Lucy an Honorary Doctorate of Arts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so humbling, it鈥檚 amazing. I鈥檓 going to have such fond memories of my graduation compared to the first time around, which was just after my accident. So today is one of those memories that I will truly cherish. You鈥檝e made me feel part of the university even though I didn鈥檛 study here and I鈥檝e enjoyed every minute of it.鈥�
While Lucy has achieved an astonishing amount in her sports career, her advice for those looking to emulate her success is to keep working 鈥� and hard.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always going to be challenged. You need to set goals, and when you achieve those goals you need to set more. Keep striving to be the best version of yourself. Life is for living, and that鈥檚 one thing that I鈥檝e realised. You鈥檒l face challenges but it鈥檚 how you overcome them that makes your life worthwhile.鈥�
Lucy鈥檚 world changed forever when a motorcycle accident left her paralysed from the chest down. Since this life changing event, she has gone on to achieve remarkable things in the world of wheelchair tennis.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough because for me I鈥檇 just been life; I graduated from university the first time round then had my accident and at that point I didn鈥檛 know what I was going to do. My body was obviously very different 鈥� what I was able to do physically. Then I found wheelchair tennis and that sport has propelled me and my life; and I鈥檝e overcome my disability and I overcome challenges every day. I鈥檝e embraced it, I鈥檝e worked hard and I continue to work hard and I鈥檓 loving life. So for me, life is there for living and for grabbing every opportunity.鈥�
For people considering a move into the world of sport, Lucy has some inspiring words of wisdom.
鈥淓mbrace it. Aim high. And keep aiming high. Keep achieving, keep pushing yourself, and enjoy every minute that you have to live. You just don鈥檛 know where it鈥檚 going to take you.鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 be scared. Disability sport or able bodied sport 鈥� doesn鈥檛 matter which avenue you go down - you鈥檒l face challenges and you鈥檒l have to face things that you have to overcome. But for me personally, Paralympic sport is so exciting, it鈥檚 so varied, it鈥檚 not the norm that you鈥檙e used to. But for me when I see the prosthetic limbs, I think they鈥檙e fascinating what people are able to do and achieve. For me, if you have the opportunity to get into Paralympic sport, go for it, don鈥檛 be scared.鈥�
