A DORSET wheelchair tennis star has been selected to be one of ParalympicsGB’s opening ceremony flagbearers.

Lucy Shuker, of Three Legged Cross in Verwood, will carry the flag and lead the team down the Champs-Elysees tomorrow night.

The 44-year-old will compete at the championships alongside new doubles partner 21-year-old Abbie Breakwell at Roland Garros and will play in the singles draw.

Shuker won silver in Tokyo with now-retired Jordanne Whiley, with this year’s Paris games her fifth representing ParalympicsGB, winning three medals in total.

“To have that honour to lead ParalympicsGB out is incredible and something that I never thought I would do,” she said.

“To qualify for my first Paralympics in Beijing was an achievement in itself, but to come to my fifth Paralympics and now be a flagbearer is a real dream come true.

“Leading the parade down the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde is going to be really different – eyes will be on me, but also the rest of ParalympicsGB.

“We are a big team and to be at the front of that is insane, incredible and an honour.”

The tennis at the games gets underway on Friday, August 30, with Shuker called up alongside fellow experience Paralympian Andy Lapthorne.

Wimbledon men’s singles champion Alfie Hewett features in the tennis squad, along with his doubles partner Gordon Reid, and Ben Bartram and Dahnon Ward.

Bournemouth University posted on X about their pride in Shuker – who holds an honorary doctorate from the university.

The university said: “We're #BUproud to see that BU Honorary Doctorate Lucy Shuker has been selected to be one of Great Britain's flagbearers at the Paris 2024 Paralympic opening ceremony.

“We can't wait to watch you Lucy - we'll all be cheering you on throughout the games!”

Shuker will carry the flag alongside four-time medallist in wheelchair basketball Terry Bywater, having been selected through an athlete vote from the 215-strong ParalympicsGB squad.

The games run between Wednesday, August 28 and Sunday, September 8.