ADIL BOUTAHLI

DISCOVERING WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

After months of rehabilitation, my doctors and therapists encouraged me to participate in adaptive sports. At first, I was unsure. Before my injury, sports had always been part of my life. I had played soccer, tennis, handball, and track and field in Morocco. After the shooting, I believed that my athletic life had ended.

One day, I attended a wheelchair tennis program in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

I watched other athletes moving quickly across the court. They were smiling, competing, and enjoying themselves. For the first time since my injury, I saw people who faced challenges similar to mine living active and meaningful lives.

The first time I sat in a sports wheelchair and held a tennis racket, I felt nervous.

Learning to move the chair and hit the ball at the same time was difficult. My body was still recovering. My right arm had suffered injuries, and my strength was limited.

But I refused to quit.

Each week I returned to practice. Slowly, I became stronger. My wheelchair skills improved. My confidence returned.

The tennis court became my therapy.

It became the place where I forgot my pain.

It became the place where I rediscovered myself.

I realized that my injury had not ended my athletic journey.

It had simply changed it.

Tennis gave me hope.

Tennis gave me purpose.

Most importantly, tennis gave me a reason to dream again.