Full Breakdown
Brad Parks’ Lightbulb Moment: The Birth of Wheelchair Tennis
7/10/2026, 4:52:31 PM
Invention of a New Sport
In the summer of 1976, 18-year-old Brad Parks, recently paralysed in a freestyle-skiing accident, turned a family picnic in Indiana into the genesis of wheelchair tennis. While watching relatives play on a court that displayed a “no bikes and no skateboards” sign, Parks began hitting tennis balls from a hospital-issued wheelchair. He resolved then to create a sport that would allow wheelchair users to compete on tennis courts worldwide.
Background and Catalyst
Parks’ accident in Utah left him confined to a wheelchair just months before the picnic. His father invited him onto the court, prompting the moment Parks describes: “So I started hitting tennis balls.” The experience convinced him that, despite limited mobility, he could adapt the game for wheelchair athletes.
Early Obstacles
The court’s signage presented a literal barrier: “no bikes and no skateboards.” Parks’ wheelchair, with front wheels resembling a skateboard and rear wheels a bike, did not fit the rule. Moreover, the gate’s width forced him to dismantle his chair to gain entry. Undeterred, he persisted, using the very equipment that conflicted with the sign to develop the sport’s mechanics.
Vision for Global Competition
Parks set a long-term goal of seeing wheelchair tennis featured at the sport’s most prestigious stages, including Grand Slam tournaments and the Paralympic Games. His early determination laid the groundwork for the sport’s eventual inclusion in these arenas, fulfilling the ambition he articulated on that Indiana court.
