SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR: LOUISE HUNT

LOUISE Hunt was humbled to receive the backing of the public as she took the Sportswoman of the Year award.

The Wanborough wheelchair tennis ace, 21, achieved her long-time ambition to compete in the Paralympics last summer.

Hunt faced Japanese ace Yui Kamiji in the first round at Eton Manor and although she suffered defeat, she was delighted to have had the experience.

And receiving the majority vote from the Swindon public was the icing on the cake for the Great Britain star.

“I’m really flattered because people have voted for it, I’m really honoured and I’d like to thank everyone who voted,” she said.

“I couldn’t do what I do without the support of other people.

“It’s nice to know that people appreciate what you do because I don’t just do it for myself, I do it because I want to inspire others and make them think that anything is possible.

“That’s why it has honoured me and I wanted to do it for the Paralympians too.”

Hunt has always stated that she wants to inspire others and she feels that the platform of the Paralympics has enabled her to do that with greater success.

And although Hunt gets to travel the world over to play tournaments, she feels that giving others belief in themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of her sport, She said: “Since the Games I’ve been out in town and people have come up to me and asked me about being a tennis player, and it’s so lovely.

“I had a young girl contact me via my website and said she had been in a wheelchair and didn’t feel she could do anything, but now she’s trying everything.

“I think that’s what it’s all about because that’s how I started out in sport. I saw someone similar to me and thought, I can do that. For me that’s what it’s all about.”

Hunt, who graduated from the University of Bath in December with a foundation degree in sports performance, is due to begin competitive action in 2013 when she plays in Switzerland next week.