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Rolling onto the Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris, with his tennis gear in his lap, Conner Stroud, 24, of Rutherford County wore an unforgettable smile that resonated with his hometown, family and friends around the world.
As a member of the USA Tennis Team and playing on the court where all the world's tennis players dream of playing, Conner reached his own dreams. Competing in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympic Games in Paris, Conner won his first men's singles match for the USA tennis team at the Paralympic Games on Aug. 30. He defeated Costa Rica's Jose Pablo Gil 6-3, 6-1. Gil had won five of their previous six meetings, said journalist Ross McLean, International Tennis Federation (ITF).
History was made with Conner winning the first match of the wheelchair tennis event at the Paralympics of Paris 2024.
McLean said, "Paralympic magic has struck on the opening day of Paris 2024 as Conner Stroud of the United States claimed his maiden Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis men's singles victory."
McLean went on to say Conner won the race, by matter of minutes, to record the first victory of the entire Paralympic Wheelchair Event, while by association it was the first on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Moments after history was made, Conner rolled over to the net to greet Gil, and then with a thumbs up to the crowd and hometown television viewers, there were continuous waves from Conner while carrying that same "winning" unforgettable smile.
Conner told McLean "It is incredibly special. I could never have dreamed of playing on Court Philippe Chatrier and I will always remember playing on such an historic court...to play in front of a big crowd to kickstart the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event here, I was quite nervous going into it. The feeling, however, was unbelievable and I will always cherish it."
"Starting on Philippe Chatrier, I could not ask for more. Playing my own game and playing how I know I can was also special," Conner told McLean. Conner said it was the biggest and best moment of his career and an unbelievable experience.
Other members of the U.S. Paris Paralympic tennis team were Maylee Phelps, Dana Mathewson, Casey Ratzlaf and David Wagner.
Conner made his second appearance at a Paralympic event. He also played in Tokyo three years ago, when Team USA was shut out.
Conner's winning match was televised on August 30 at 6am on Peacock and was viewed by friends and family in Rutherford County.
Lynette Hodge Martin, friend, posted a video of the win on social media congratulating Conner.
The commentator for the Peacock viewing said "he has the right to clap...this is an amazing time for him to be on this court and to win the first round."
Janet Roller of Rutherfordton also congratulated her friend from the first grade at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA). Conner is a TJCA graduate.
The son of Dewey and Rita Stroud, Conner was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) and had no femurs, hips, ankles or knees. When he was two years old, Conner had surgery that amputated the front part of each of his feet.
As a child he would accompany his parents to PeachTree Racquet Club in Forest City where he started playing tennis. It was either sit around or play tennis, his mom said once.
His dad Dewey, a former letterman at Clemson University, coached Conner. Conner played tennis on his "scubbies" and won matches against his peers.
By the age of 13, Conner decided it was time to make the transition to wheelchair tennis. "At the beginning, it was really about learning how to move the chair," he said in an interview a few years ago. "I had knowledge about the strokes, but I didn't know how to move my wheelchair around the court quickly and effectively."
Today, with his forever winning smile, Conner remains thankful for his supporters at home.
Conner has played tennis on courts around the world and the United States, making his debut at the US Tennis Open last year and played in his first Paralympics in Tokyo three years ago. Whether Conner is on or off the court, he makes Rutherford County proud with a winning smile and positive attitude.
