GB's Special Olympics tennis squad
A team of six tennis players competed for Great Britain in the Special Olympics European Summer Games which took place in Warsaw from September 18-25 and returned with a hugely impressive 7 medals.
Read all about our medal success here.
The selected players formed part of a 45-strong Great Britain squad of athletes competing in badminton, tennis, table tennis, powerlifting, ten pin bowling and athletics.
A total of 58 nations took part in the week-long celebration of sport for people with learning disabilities and over 1600 athletes, supported by 600 coaches, competed in ten disciplines.
The squad consisted of Zara Jurenko (Leics), Peter Millar (Birkenhead), Laura Campbell (York), Michael Clarke (Nottingham), Alastair Daniels (Stonehaven), and Adam Hodgson (West Midlands). You can read more about the athletes below.
ZARA JURENKO
Zara Jurenko, from Kirkby Muxloe, is already proving herself as a global star in Special Olympics despite being only 22. Cheered on in Warsaw by members of her Poland-based family, she picked up two gold medals at the European Summer Games to continue her record of being the most successful female Special Olympics tennis player of all time.
Zara topped the podium in both the Group 1 women's singles event and in the Group 1 mixed doubles alongside Michael Clarke.
Before flying out to Poland, Zara was invited to meet the Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street along with three other athletes to celebrate the Flame of Hope arriving in the capital en route to Warsaw.
She has previously triumphed at two World Games in Shanghai and Dublin and collected three gold medals at last year’s Leicester National Games.
Zara works as a fitness instructor with Living Well and has been playing tennis for 11 years. Her hero is Aussie tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt whom she has been lucky enough to meet.
“I enjoy everything about the Special Olympics and it’s great to see new places,” said Zara.
Watch Zara interviewed on ITV Central
PETER MILLAR
Eighteen-year-old Peter Millar from the Wirral was destined for tennis glory ever since picking up a tennis racquet at the age of four. He’s competed in Special Olympics events for the past five years despite having to cope with major health issues which have recently improved.
The teenager won silver in Poland after teaming up with Alastair Daniels in the Group 1 men's doubles event.
Peter is currently studying IT and Floristry at college but yearns for a career working with horses. His tennis heroes are Andy Murray and Serena Williams.
“I think the Special Olympics is amazing and involves people from all sorts of backgrounds. People are always there to help you out," said Peter.
LAURA CAMPBELL
Nineteen-year-old Laura Campbell from York has been playing Special Olympics tennis for the past couple of years and collected a bronze in the mixed doubles at the Leicester National Games.
Laura brought home two medals from Poland as she struck gold in the Group 2 mixed doubles event alongside Adam Hodgson and also collected silver in the Group 2 women's singles.
She’ll soon be starting a college course in Grimsby and is a big admirer of Roger Federer.
“I love the experience of Special Olympics and I’m getting better at tennis all the time,” said Laura.
MICHAEL CLARKE
Michael Clarke, who has been playing tennis for three years, is already proving himself on court and returned from the Leicester National Games with silver and bronze medals.
More recently he won two medals at the European Summer Games with a Group 1 mixed doubles gold with Zara Jurenko and a silver in the Group 3 men's singles.
From Nottingham, Michael is a big fan of Andy Murray and Chelsea FC and is currently studying sport at South Notts College.
Watch Michael interviewed on ITV Central
ALASTAIR DANIELS
Alastair Daniels is a true Special Olympics veteran having competed for 14 years.
At the European Summer Games in Poland Alastair returned with silver in the Group 1 men's doubles with Peter Millar and also captured bronze in the Group 2 men's singles.
The Aberdeen-based 35-year-old is a huge Hearts fan and he finished fourth in the men's singles at the Leicester National Games. He’s also a keen golfer and plays off 26.
“I love competing and winning and it gives me great pride whenever I pull on the Team GB shirt,” said Alastair.
ADAM HODGSON
Adam, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire is an experienced Special Olympics tennis player, having represented Special Olympics West Midlands Region at several National Summer Games, including last year's event in Leicester.
The 30-year-old experienced success at the European Summer Games winning gold in the Group 2 mixed doubles with Laura Campbell.
Adam has also been a regular participant in the Tennis Foundation's annual National Learning Disability Tennis Event in Nottingham, again performing with distinction.