Michael Dobbie describes the Beijing Paralympic Games as the best experience of his life. The competition aside, he believes walking out in the Opening Ceremony made the last four years training worth it and taking part in the Closing Ceremony inspired him to continue playing tennis until the next Games in London.

While he didn’t enter the Games with huge expectations, he is happy with his results as he was the last Australian left in the tournament. The Games capped off an explosive four years for the tennis star. In 2007, wheelchair tennis competitions took him to the United States, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, New Zealand and four Australian states. In 2006, he won a bronze medal at the FESPIC Games in Kuala Lumpur and also performed well in the Australian Open.

He describes being in the Australian Paralympic team as his greatest sporting experience. As tennis is an individual sport, there is little team atmosphere and experiencing a team environment was a real treat for Michael. The Beijing Games have encouraged him to continue tennis and he plans to go on to London by focusing on lowering his ranking rather than playing in as many tournaments as he can.

Michael always carries an entire set of lion figurines in his tennis bag; “they’re my lucky charms,” he says. He lists hot tub sitting as a favourite hobby, along with collecting shoes. He also enjoys long walks on the beach and was runner up for the 2005 Goulburn Valley Bachelor of the Year.