Louise Hunt Skelley (born 24 May 1991) is a British wheelchair tennis player who competed internationally in both singles and double competitions. Former world number 2 in the junior wheelchair tennis singles rankings, and 10 in the women's international rankings.
She is a colour badge holder and has competed in two Paralympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016) and thirteen World Team Cups.
Louise is an athlete mentor, motivational speaker, international tournament director, and commentator. She has commentated at events such as Wimbledon, World Masters and Paralympics (2020, 2024).
Louise is married to Paralympic Champion, Chris Hunt Skelley.
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Tennis career
Early life
Louise Hunt Skelley started wheelchair tennis and handcycling at five years old. While competing in handcycling, Louise won seven out of ten London Mini Wheelchair Marathons, an un-official World Record.
Louise committed herself to wheelchair tennis. In 2007, Louise was named BBC West Sportsperson with an Impairment of the Year in Great Britain.
As a junior player, Louise won the girls doubles title three times at the Junior Wheelchair Tennis Masters in Tarbes, France.
In 2012, she studied BA (Hons) Sports Science and Performance at the University of Bath.
Professional tennis
In January 2009, Louise Hunt achieved No.2 in the Best Juniors Rankings. Louise won her first senior women's singles title in Turkey 2009 and added a second title later that year.
In 2010, Louise reached the ITF 2 Series final at the South Africa Open gaining a career singles ranking of No. 18.
She joined GB's women's team for the ITF World Team Cup. The team were runners-up in 2009, fourth in 2010, and bronze medal position in 2011 and 2012.
In 2011, Louise Hunt Skelley won four singles titles, including the athlete's first two titles at ITF 3 series status. In doubles, Hunt won eight titles.
By 2012, Hunt won back-to-back doubles titles in Australia, ending the season with seven doubles titles and two singles titles. Louise's ITF 2 Series women's singles title at the Israel Open qualified her for London 2012.
Louise Hunt Skelley attended the Paralympics in London 2012. She competed in the women's singles competition. Hunt lost out in the first round against top ten opposition, Yui Kamiji.
In 2013, Hunt Skelley won two doubles titles in Switzerland and Great Britain. She claimed the women's singles in Sheffield. At the Open International Fundacion Emilio Sanchez Vicario in Spain, Hunt Skelley competed in the women's singles final and won the women's doubles.
As a member of Team GB, Hunt Skelley won a silver medal in the women's event at the 2013 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Turkey. By June 2013, Hunt competed in ITF 1 Series tournaments in Korea and took a place in the final of the women's doubles at the Korea Open in Seoul.
In July 2013, Louise Hunt Skelley was runner-up in the mixed doubles at the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships. In September, she won the women's doubles at the Open de L'Ile de Re in France. She won the women's singles and doubles at the ITF Futures tournament in Wrexham and finished runner-up in the women's doubles at the Nottingham Indoor in October.
Personal life
Louise Hunt Skelley was born on 24 May 1991 with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Louise has been in a wheelchair her whole life as she has little movement in her lower limbs.
From 5, participated in swimming, basketball, and fencing. She favoured wheelchair tennis and wheelchair racing.
In 2016, Louise Hunt met Chris Skelley at the selection dinner for the Rio 2016 Paralympics. They married on 3 September 2022 at Holbrook Manor, near Wincanton in Somerset
In 2024, Louise published her memoir, 'What's Wrong With You?'.
Commentator, presenter, and mentor
"To be the best athlete I can possibly be and inspire the next generation."
Louise commentates on tennis across major competitions, notably covering Wimbledon and the Paralympics. Louise has appeared on The Last Leg and Paris 2024 Paralympics coverage. She is an athlete mentor for Youth Sport Trust and Tennis Foundation initiatives. She is an ambassador for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance.
In 2019, Louise Hunt Skelley joined Swindon-based charity, PHOENIX, as employment engagement manager. "I hope my refusal to be defined by my disability will encourage my friends and colleagues to fulfil their own potential."