大象传媒

Reading and writing have never been Zara Jurenko's strong points, but when it comes to tennis, she's an ace on the court.

The 21 -year-old from Kirby Muxloe has a powerful backhand from the baseline, and this summer she's set to impress once again.

For the past 10 years, she has been winning medals all over the world, including gold for Great Britain in the ladies singles at the Special Olympics World Games in China.

The one she really wants, though, is gold in Leicester in 2009, because it's taking place on her home turf.

大象传媒 Leicester's Khush Sameja went to meet her.

Zara promoting the game

Listen: Interview with Zara Jurenko

Zara spent years at school struggling with her work.

It was not until it was discovered she has moderate learning difficulties, and she enrolled at Maplewell Hall Special School in Woodhouse Eaves, that she began to turn a corner.

Zara said: "I've been playing from the age of eleven, ever since I went to the school. I really enjoyed the sport and wanted to progress further.

After the move, she joined Charnwood-Burleigh-Maplewell Tennis Club and since then she has demonstrated her new found-skills and decided to leave her academic worries behind her.

As the defending champion at national level in both the ladies singles and mixed doubles competitions, Zara is desperate to hang on to her titles and prove to the world that, despite her learning difficulties, she is as capable as anyone.

Zara with 大象传媒 Leicester's Ian Stringer

Health Plan

As part of her preparations she's on a diet to help get her ready in time for the games in July:

"I'm doing my fitness training at work and I go and go on a protein diet, like a fitness diet.

"I can eat pasta, rice, meat. Nothing like chocolates on McDonalds. I have to eat very healthily until the games.

"I make sure that I train very hard, eat well and look after myself."

Mum Gillian says she's very proud of her daughter's achievement:

"From being at school it was always, poor Zara, she's not doing very well with her reading, or she's not doing very well with her writing and always sat at the back of the class with her helper. But give her a tennis racket, there was something that she could achieve,.

"We've never had anyone from our family representing the country before so we're very proud of her.

"We shall sneak in so she doesn't see us because we don't want to put her off her game.

Zara with her gold

Proud Moment

Zara will celebrate her 22nd birthday during the games.

Gillian says it will be a special time for her:

"She has found something she can do well, and that makes her feel so good about herself.

"All the way through primary school she was behind, but now she is at the top of her game."

Zara says she hopes she will be an inspirational figure for others:

"Everyone can shine. You see people from mainstream to a special person. You can go out there and show people what you can do. It's good how that comes out.