Sarah Calati

Emerging wheelchair tennis player Sarah Calati was 19-years-old when she sustained right through-knee limb loss as a passenger in a motorcycle accident. She spent four months recovering in hospital, in which time she began learning how to walk using a prosthetic leg, before discovering her calling in wheelchair tennis.

After being introduced to Australian wheelchair tennis coach Greg Crump in 2010, it wasn’t long before Sarah began climbing the Australian ranks, making her international debut two years later at the 2012 ITF World Team Cup in New Delhi, India.

Spurred on by sporting idol and mentor, former wheelchair tennis number one Danni Di Toro, Sarah continued to excel in international competition, culminating in her selection to the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team following Russia’s suspension for doping.

Despite being knocked out of the first round 0-6, 1-6 by Chinese competitor Zhenzhen Zhu, ‘Calati Kid’ gained crucial international experience in Rio, crediting wheelchair tennis with enriching her life by creating opportunities for her to travel the world and meet like-minded people.

Off the court, she works as a gardener, and likes to wind down by spending time with her friends, going to music festivals, fishing and camping.