Dana Mathewson, a professional wheelchair tennis player from the United States, was born on December 19, 1990. At the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, Mathewson and doubles partner Yui Kamiji won a Major title in doubles, making Mathewson the first American woman to win a Major wheelchair tennis trophy. As well as she is also eligible to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Dana Mathewson qualifies for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Dana Mathewson, a 32-year-old wheelchair tennis player, and her teammate Gustavo Fernandez have earned their spots for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. They achieved this by winning the singles gold medals at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Mathewson, who is twice the age of her doubles partner Maylee Phelps, and Phelps had a successful run at the Parapan American Games. They reached the women’s doubles final without losing many games. Despite a nervous start, they overcame the top-seeded pair of Bernal and Johana Martinez to claim the gold medal.
As the top seed, Mathewson spent over two hours on the court, ending Bernal’s hope of defending her gold medal and improving on the bronze she won four years ago in Lima. Mathewson’s performance was recognized, and she was given the honor of carrying the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony.
Mathewson has announced that the 2024 Paralympics in Paris will likely be her last, as she plans to retire after the event. This milestone in her career is a testament to her dedication and achievements as a wheelchair tennis player.
Dana Mathewson’s Early Life with her Parents and Siblings
Dana Mathewson is 33 years old and was born on December 19, 1990, in San Diego, California. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Her parents are Dr. Jim and Dr. Arlene Mathewson, and she has an older brother named Scott who is 4.5 years older than her. Dana is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 115 pounds. Her coach is Brian Barten.
Dana attended high school at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, California, and received a tennis scholarship to the University of Arizona, where she played tennis and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She also has a master’s degree in Audiological Sciences from University College London.
Dana’s mother encouraged her to participate in sports, even though Dana would sometimes complain during the car rides to sports camps. Eventually, Dana came to enjoy the camps. Dana plays tennis right-handed with a one-handed backhand. She is currently working towards a clinical doctorate degree in audiology, and her hobbies include baking, crafting, traveling, active and competitive activities, escape rooms, and watching Netflix.
When Dana was 10 years old, she contracted a rare neurological disease called Transverse Myelitis, which affects the spinal cord and causes the immune system to attack a very low region of the back.
Who is Dana Mathewson’s Husband? Is she even married?
Dana Mathewson was in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend Dristin Hughes. The couple recently got married on December 2, 2023, after Dana accepted Dristin’s proposal. So, Dana Mathewson is now married to her husband, Dristin Hughes.
Dana Mathewson’s Begining of her Career
In 2016, Dana Mathewson had a successful year, finishing in 5th place in Women’s Doubles and 9th place in Women’s Singles at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 2017, Dana reached the finals of the US Open Doubles Tournament and the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon tournament.
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In 2019, Dana had a strong performance, reaching the semifinals of the US Open Tournament in singles and the Cajun Classic Tournament. She also won the Doubles Championship at the Japan Open Tournament and earned a bronze medal in singles and a gold medal in doubles at the Parapan-American Games in Lima.
Dana Mathewson in her Prime
In 2020, Dana Mathewson competed in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where she finished in 5th place in singles and 9th place in doubles.
Dana reached the quarterfinals in the singles event at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games.
In 2022, Dana Mathewson had a very successful year in wheelchair tennis. She became the first American woman to win a major wheelchair tennis title when she won the ladies’ doubles championship at Wimbledon with her partner Yui Kamiji.
In 2023, Dana continued her strong performance, winning gold medals in both the women’s singles and women’s doubles events at the Parapan American Games. She ended her Parapan American career on a high note, winning double gold medals in singles and doubles. Additionally, she had the honor of carrying the USA flag during the opening ceremony, recognizing her importance and contributions to the Parapan American Games.
What happened to Dana Mathewson? and What’s her Disability?
Dana Mathewson was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Transverse Myelitis when she was 10 years old. This disease caused inflammation in her spinal cord, which damaged the protective covering around her nerves, known as myelin. This damage led to scarring on her spinal cord, blocking the nerve signals and causing partial paralysis.
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Transverse Myelitis is a relatively uncommon condition that usually affects children between 10 and 19 years old, as well as adults between 30 and 39 years old. It can happen to people of any age, gender, or race, and it can lead to different levels of paralysis. Dana went from being an active child and soccer player to suddenly being unable to move her legs after developing this disease.
Despite this life-changing event, Dana discovered wheelchair tennis and other adaptive sports. This eventually led her to pursue a successful career as a professional wheelchair tennis player, representing the United States in various international competitions.
