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Paralympic medallist headlines wheelchair tennis tournament in Kitsilano

Vancouver’s Richard Peter is competing in a field of more than a dozen athletes at this weekend’s 2016 Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament
John Kurucz

One of Vancouver’s most decorated athletes is taking his talents to Kits Beach.

Five-time Paralympian Richard Peter will be pounding the Kitsilano courts this weekend as part of the 2016 Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, which features a handful of athletes bound for the Rio Paralympics in September.

Peter joins a field of 10 other Canadians competing this weekend against athletes from the U.S., Japan, Mexico and Great Britain. 

"Wheelchair tennis is a fast-paced, exciting sport and Kits beach is the perfect backdrop for it," said BC Wheelchair Sports Association executive director Gail Hamamoto in a news release. "This event gives our local players the opportunity to play against some of the world's best."

Wheelchair tennis is Peter’s secondary sport of choice, as the 44-year-old achieved borderline legendary status while competing for Canada in wheelchair basketball.

Originally from Duncan, Peter helped lead Canada to gold medals in wheelchair basketball at the 2012, 2004 and 2000 Paralympics. He also collected silver at the 2008 Games, and a fifth-place finish at the Atlanta Paralympics in 1996.

He took to tennis after retiring from wheelchair basketball in 2012.

Tournament action began on Thursday and matches are scheduled until Sunday, July 17.

For more info, see www.bcwheelchairsports.com.Â