Wheelchair tennis champion Jordanne Whiley has won a Paralympics bronze medal - and has a chance to win gold on Saturday.
The star, who lives in Steventon, beat the Netherlands' Aniek van Koot in the Tokyko 2020 semi-finals.
The 29-year-old, who won bronze medals in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, beat her rival 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. It was her first games since giving birth to son Jackson in 2018.
Jordanne Whiley celebrates her bronze medal win Picture: AP/Shuji Kajiyama
Speaking after the game, Whiley said: “I just said to myself at the end, ‘I did it.’ Obviously it’s not gold, but for me, this feels like gold.
“I’ve never done this before and given everything that’s happened in the last two years, came back, had a baby and struggled with getting back to fitness.
“Before I had Jackson, I was injured 24⁄7 and to get my body in a state where it can compete at the top level, I’m really proud of myself.
“She gave me everything today, both of us left everything out on the court. We were very neck-and-neck, that match could have gone either way. I just kept fighting.
“I was using my reserve tank, everything emotionally. I’ve never been on a singles podium and that was a really nerve-wracking experience. It’s such an amazing achievement for me personally.”
She will be joining Great Britain teammate Lucy Shuker on Saturday, going head to head with the Netherlands' Van Koot and Diede de Groot in the gold medal fight.
Jordanne Whiley takes a shot Picture: AP/Shuji Kajiyama
The doubles pair are already guaranteed a silver medal. Whiley said: “Just one more match and I’m going to give it absolutely everything again.
“Van Koot is going to come at us all guns blazing, I expect. They’re an amazing team, they’re number one in the world for a reason.
“We’ve played them many times, so we know what to expect. We’ve just got to be on our A game.”
Whiley's father, Keith, claimed the bronze medal in the 1984 summer Paralymics. He took third place in the 100m L3 final at the New York games.
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