Adam Hills, best known as the quick-witted host of The Last Leg , has come a long way from being a sports-mad kid who once hid his foot prosthesis. Poised to become the President of the Rugby Football League, the Australian comedian and TV presenter opens up about his passion for para-standing tennis , mingling with royalty , and even a short-lived foray into music. In this weekend’s 60 Seconds , Adam shares the key moments that shaped him, the challenges he’s faced, and his latest project, a documentary aimed at changing the conversation around disability sports .
Tell us about Foot Fault...
There’s always been this thing in the back of my mind – why can’t I play tennis against other people with disabilities like me? Why isn’t there a category of tennis for people who aren’t in wheelchairs? A year and a half ago I found para-standing tennis. It was like a worldwide underground movement of people with disabilities who don’t need or can’t use a wheelchair. For example, if you’ve one arm, or you have certain forms of cerebral palsy.
How does para-standing tennis work? There are four categories. The first is for arm amputees; category two is for below-knee amputees or mild cerebral palsy; three is for above-knee or double amputees and people with severe cerebral palsy; and four is for short-statured people. Categories three and four get two bounces.
The courts are exactly the same as able-bodied tennis. The quality’s great and it’s fast-paced. You have mo.