ADIL BOUTAHLI

THE FIRST VICTORIES

In August 2015, I played my first wheelchair tennis tournament in New Jersey.

I was nervous.

I had never competed in wheelchair tennis before, and I did not know what to expect. However, I remembered all the years I had spent playing sports in Morocco. The competitor inside me was still there.

When I entered the court, I felt excited.

I played hard and reached the semifinals in the singles competition. My doubles partner and I won the doubles division.

That moment changed my life.

For the first time since the shooting, I felt like an athlete again.

Soon afterward, I competed in another tournament in Delaware. This tournament became another important milestone because I won both the singles and doubles competitions.

Those victories gave me confidence.

I realized that my wheelchair did not define my limits.

I began traveling to tournaments throughout the United States. I competed in Florida, Texas, Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, New York, and New Jersey.

Each tournament taught me valuable lessons.

Sometimes I won.

Sometimes I lost.

But every competition helped me improve.

The support from rehabilitation hospitals, coaches, friends, and sponsors allowed me to continue traveling and competing.

I understood that wheelchair tennis had become much more than a sport.

It had become my second chance at life.