Gulfport Teen Competes Overseas in Wheelchair Tennis

Four years after a car accident left Chris Herman in a wheelchair, the teen is competing in an international tennis tournament, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After becoming paralyzed from the waist down, Herman tried several sports, including track and field, ice hockey and basketball, according to the Times.

But, Herman told the Times, tennis was just the sport that clicked for him. Now, a year and a half after taking up wheelchair tennis, Herman is on the junior national team.

According to The Tampa Tribune, Herman's competitive spirit kicked in after his first tournament last year in Baton Rouge, LA.

Herman is the youngest member of the junior national team representing the United States in singles and doubles in the 17th annual Paribas World Team Cup wheelchair tennis tournament, according to the Times.

More than 25 countries are represented with more than 160 players competing in the arena that hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

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All of the participants are listed on the United States Tennis Association's website.