"I chose wheelchair tennis because it was a sport that I could play whilst in a wheelchair with, and against, my able-bodied friends and family."
Regaining his love for tennis, David started to train again, but this time for a sporting career in wheelchair tennis - "For me, the biggest challenge in wheelchair tennis I found was the actual wheelchair itself. It takes a while to get the wheelchair dialed in, so it fits each individual person based on their disability. But once it is, it feels great and makes the sport so wonderful".
"I absolutely love wheelchair tennis, it means everything to me. It has given me so much and allowed me to travel the world and meet many wonderful people. I donate my time and services to help others get involved in this wonderful sport too. My dream is to, at some point, be able to coach wheelchair tennis and help develop tennis in the United States to an even higher level than it already is".
David Wagner was born on the 4th March 1974. Losing his ability to walk after an accident off the coast of Redondo, CA, David broke his neck which damaged his spinal cord. Prior to his accident, David was a collegiate level tennis player - and upon becoming paralysed, doctors had little hope that he would ever walk again, much less play tennis.
"I first learned of wheelchair tennis in the Portland, Oregon area when I saw an ad in a Sports N' Spokes magazine for a wheelchair tennis clinic in 1999. It was run by then number 1 Randy Snow, Rick Draney and Dan James. I chose wheelchair tennis because it was a sport that I could play whilst in a wheelchair with, and against, my able-bodied friends and family".
NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters - Orlando
Singles - Gold medal
US Open USTA Wheelchair Championships
Doubles - Gold medal
British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships
Singles - 1st place
Doubles - 1st place
Birmingham Canadian Wheelchair Tennis Classic
Belgian Open
Doubles - 2nd place
US Open
NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters
Singles - 2nd place
Paralympic Games (Rio)
Singles - Bronze Medal Doubles - Silver Medal
Paralympic Games (London)
Doubles - Gold Medal Singles - Silver Medal
Paralympic Games (Beijing)
Doubles - Gold Medal Singles - Bronze Medal
Paralympic Games (Athens)