Tennis Athlete - Peter Millar
Location: Tranmere, Birkenhead
Coach: Leigh Owen
Peter Millar is 15 years old. He started playing tennis at the age of 4 after a friend of his mum’s saw him hitting a ball around and spotted his talent. Over the next 7 years he developed that talent with individual training and opportunities through the British Tennis Foundation (BTF), but he was frustrated by the barriers which prevented him competing because of his learning disabilities.
Then 3 years ago Peter became involved with Special Olympics Great Britain. His mum, Sue, says that since then both of them have been on a “fantastic roller-coaster journey” which has seen Peter win numerous medals, including many gold, and push his limits beyond what anyone thought possible.
Peter is autistic. He has severe dyspraxia which affects his coordination and ADHD which causes problems with concentration. With all of these challenges his progress and achievement in tennis has amazed everyone who knows him.
His mum Sue says it’s thanks to a lot of support but mostly down to Peter’s sheer determination and passion for the game. Despite his challenge in concentration he is completely focussed when he’s playing, whether it’s training or a match. And he is his own biggest critic, very hard on himself when he misses shots or doesn’t get something right.
By 9 years old Peter had achieved a Lawn Tennis Association ranking, but could not compete because he has difficulty keeping track of the score. This was the most difficult and frustrating time for him because he hit a ‘wall’. He was consistently improving his game but had no way to move up. Then Sue saw an ad for learning disability training that put her in touch with Lyn Parker from the BTF, who has been one of Peter’s greatest supporters. That meeting marked the start of specialist coaching for Peter. He started regular training and took part in intensive weekends.
At the age of 12 Peter entered his first major tournament – the 2005 Special Olympics national games in Glasgow. He surprised everyone with his cool performance under pressure. And after a close final with a nail-biting 7/6 tie break he won the gold medal.
His opponent was a player called Alistair, aged 29 at that time, from Aberdeen. Sue Millar mum says “Alistair gave Peter the biggest hug” and he has since become Peter’s closest friend and one of his greatest supporters.
Everyone thought Peter might be too young and inexperienced for the world games in Shanghai. But Andy Shard, northwest regional officer, persuaded Sue to put him in for selection. The decision was so last minute Sue and Peter had to meet Andy halfway in a motorway café to hand over the entry form in time. When finally Andy phoned with the news that Peter was in the World Summer Games squad Peter’s reaction was absolute disbelief.
Among Peter’s greatest achievements outside Special Olympics has been winning a BTF National Tournament twice in a row – 2005 and 2006. In both finals he beat Alistair. But, having become regular playing partners, the two of them also won gold in the doubles. They make a great team, with Alistair playing mostly up at the net and Peter covering the back of the court. Alistair is expert at reading Peter’s game and complementing it.
In Shanghai Peter will have to forge a new partnership with Tom Styles from Nottingham for the doubles. For this Peter is putting a lot of training effort into improving his net game. It’s something of a daunting challenge for him after Glasgow where he received a hard blow to the head up at the net.
Peter attends five weeks training with the BTF every year. He belongs to the Wallasey Manor tennis club. His own coach Lee has been working with him for the past three years and seen him make huge progress in his tennis skills. Despite his coordination challenges, Peter now has a strong, aggressive forehand.
He’s also being encouraged in his game by another young club player 18 year old Richie who often spends time training with Peter. His uncle Andy also often plays with him.
Peter works hard at his fitness with regular running. At the Claremount specialist sports college, where he is hoping to do a GCSE in PE, he does sessions on the treadmill, rowing machines and bikes to build his stamina and strength. He’s out training almost every night. In tennis his mum says “He’d go on playing for hours if we let him”. For the past 18 months he’s been putting in long hard hours of training, even when it’s meant him missing out on other things.
Peter was also selected for a government ‘Gifted and Talented’ scheme which offered special training to young sports achievers from ‘mainstream’ and with disabilities. As part of this he did some speed and agility work with a player at the premiership club Everton F.C.
Su Millar will be out in Shanghai supporting Peter. Watching him in competition is, she says, “Very intense. I play every shot with him!” As a single mum, Su has spent “every last penny” on helping Peter to achieve his dreams. She says, “He has a gift and I’m determined to help him excel in that.” Peter’s grandma (Su’s mum) give lots of support too. Despite having little money herself she’s bought him a top brand pair of tennis shoes for Shanghai. Like any professional, Peter’s racquets are the most important thing to him. He knows that their condition is crucial to his game so is waiting until the last month before Shanghai to have them re-strung.
Peter has a lot of people behind him at home in his bid for a World Games medal. Supporting his efforts are his school, carer and therapist, Su’s workmates and friends from church. A lot of them have been involved in raising funds for his trip, and Peter himself has done a sponsored walk. He’s so excited about Shanghai he’s already planning the next trip and is keen to find out everything he can about China from books and the internet.
TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ATHLETES OR COACHES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SOGB NATIONAL OFFICE.
TELEPHONE: 020 7696 5569 OR EMAIL TO: pr@sogb.org.uk