Esther Vergeer could well be regarded as the most dominant tennis player of all time.

She has been world number one for over ten years, longer than any other tennis player in history.

Vergeer burst onto the Paralympic scene at Sydney 2000, beating compatriot Sharon Walraven in the Singles final and also clinching Doubles gold with Maaike Smit.

Four years later Vergeer repeated the double at Athens 2004 – with Smit again partnering her to Doubles glory – before picking up another gold and silver at Beijing 2008.

With gold medals at the last three Paralympic Games, Vergeer is an outstanding example of a sportsperson taking pride in being a role model to wheelchair users.