Andriana Petrakis, a Greek Australian tennis athlete with an intellectual impairment, has been named finalist for South Australia’s ‘Young Australian of the Year Award.’
The athlete from Adelaide, South Australia is not only one of the top players in the world in the Intellectual Disability category (II-1), but she also serves as a role model of humanity and mental strength.
When Andriana was nine, her parents – unable to afford occupational therapy – saw tennis as an alternative to build her movement skills, hand eye coordination and social skills. Just over a decade later, Andriana represented Australia at the 2023 Virtus Global Games, the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual disability.
Now an assistant coach with Tennis SA’s Pathway Program, Andriana hopes to inspire other young people with a disability to learn new skills, meet new people and apply themselves while also having fun.
Andriana shares her passion, positivity and understanding of autism as a public speaker. She is ranked number five internationally and number two in Australia in the women’s singles People with an Intellectual Impairment category. She was awarded Tennis SA’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability in 2023.
The Greek Herald closely follows the achievements of Andriana. The nomination is a great honour for Andriana, her family, and the Greek community in Australia.
