Formerly ranked as the fifth best player in the world, Lucy Shuker has been recognized for her contributions to tennis. The 43-year-old wheelchair tennis professional has achieved a career-high ranking of fifth in the world. Despite not yet securing a Grand Slam title, she has won an impressive 31 career titles. Shuker has consistently reached the quarter-finals in all four Major tournaments in singles, and has even made it to the semi-finals in both the and the . In doubles, she has reached the semi-finals in all four Grand Slam events. Shuker has also been a runner-up five times in and three times in the AO in doubles.
Shuker made history at the 2012 London Paralympics by becoming the first British woman to win a tennis medal at the Games. Alongside her compatriot , they won the bronze medal, triumphing even after facing a match point. They successfully defended their medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. In the most recent 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, they upgraded to a silver medal, marking their third consecutive Paralympic medal. In recognition of her remarkable achievements, Shuker was rightfully awarded the British Empire Medal during the ceremony, which acknowledges and rewards outstanding contributions by British citizens.
Although the award was announced in June 2023, Shuker officially received her medal today. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the governing body of tennis in Britain, shared photos of Shuker proudly displaying her medal.
Congratulations to Lucy Shuker for receiving the British Empire Medal in recognition of her dedication to sports! 👏🎖🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/TWZVysU1V4
In addition to Lucy, two other British wheelchair tennis players were honored in the 2023 Birthday Honors. The legendary duo of and were both awarded the Order of British Empire (OBE) for their contributions to the sport. These two men have achieved great success, including winning multiple Grand Slam titles. They have partnered together in men’s doubles and have an impressive record of 19 Major victories. In 2021, they accomplished the rare feat of winning all four Majors in a single discipline in one season, known as the Calendar Slam.
These three players now join the esteemed company of (Knighthood), (MBE), (OBE), (CBE), and (CBE) as honorees recognized by the British Royal Family.