Sport
10 August, 2024
Teen’s 2032 target
HAVING just returned from competing in the Brisbane Wheelchair Classic, Cairns’ wheelchair tennis up-and-coming luminary Ben Wenzel is reflecting on his career and the road towards the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics.
At only 17-years-old, the Redlynch resident has competed at the BNP Paribas World Cup in 2022, 2023, 2024, was one of the key members of the junior team at the 2022 World Cup, sits fourth in the junior world ranking and has classified for the US Open in September, but his ultimate goal is the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics. He is currently attending year 11 at St Andrew’s Catholic College.
He has also returned from the Brisbane Wheelchair Classic where he got defeated in the semi-finals against Australian Jin Woodman.
In a chat with Cairns Local News, Mr Wenzel revealed the many challenges he’s currently facing, his latest being balancing education and sport, but the Paralympic dream is still there.
“Brisbane Classic was an interesting tournament. I’m juggling year 11 and, with my family, we decided to look ahead, so school is currently more important for me at the moment,” he said.
“The junior competition has become a lot more competitive with the introduction of grand slams, and the training requirements to stay within that top level has become harder.
“Many juniors don’t do school anymore, I’m the one that’s decided to continue with full-time school, so I’m trying to find the correct balance.
“I need to find new ways to balance because the others are starting to catch up and you can see that in my last results.
“I’ve had some good wins this year but it’s getting harder to stay at that level.”
Mr Wenzel’s biggest titles this year include the 'Junior Masters Doubles' title in France, and the silver medal for Australia in the World Team Cup in Turkey and now he’ll be going to the US Open in September, as he continues to grow his experience on the road to 2032 Paralympics.
“Making the Paralympics is my ultimate goal, I’m still striving for it,” he said.
“I’m yet to find that balance and I think I’m riding a wave until I finish school but once I finish that’ll really become the key part towards that Olympic dream.
“For me as a FNQ athlete I know I have to put in more effort to get to that elite level because I don’t get to train with people in wheelchairs but able-bodied people, but for me to represent this high-level sport, and disabled sport from the Far North and proving to people that we can generate talent in this region is a big dream and I hope that with the Paralympics the infrastructure also increases up here.
“To be able to represent, not only my country, but the Far North at the Queensland Olympics would be super cool.
“To other young disabled athletes looking to go to elite sport – I’d say give it a go, see if you like it and if you want it, take it and do the best you can.”
