41 remarkable South Australian women have been named finalists for The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year awards, including Andriana Petrakis. These finalists, who range from educators to industry leaders and selfless community advocates, have made an impact in their respective fields.
Andriana Petrakis, a tennis player with autism, is recognized for sharing her experiences, skills, and knowledge with young people with intellectual disabilities. At the age of nine, her parents, unable to afford occupational therapy, turned to tennis as a way to improve her movement, hand-eye coordination, and social skills. Over a decade later, Ms. Petrakis represented Australia at the 2023 Virtus Global Games, the largest global sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. She currently holds the fifth spot internationally and second place in Australia in the women’s singles People with an Intellectual Impairment category. In 2023, she was also awarded Tennis SA’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability.
Now serving as an assistant coach for Tennis SA’s Pathway Program, Ms. Petrakis is passionate about inspiring other young people with disabilities to pursue their goals.
