For a kid from Cantley, Alfie Hewett has certainly come a long way.
And next week he is hoping to make more history as he goes toe to toe with the nation's most revered sports personalities.
Hewett, the reigning world number one in both men's singles and doubles wheelchair tennis, was born with a congenital heart defect which required complex surgery at just six months old.
The 26-year-old, who attended Acle High School and went on to study Sport and Exercise Science at City College Norwich, was also diagnosed with Legg–Calve–Perthes disease at seven - a condition that inhibits blood flow from the pelvis to the hip joint - severely impairing his ability to walk.
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But Hewett has grit and spirit - as anyone who has seen him on the court will attest. And this year he was made an OBE and just last week named as a finalist in tomorrow's prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
His proud father, Anthony Hewett, remembers how he overcame the disappointment of his diagnosis to become one of the most decorated sports personalities in world sport.
Anthony, 51, said: "He was sports mad, playing football and basketball. So, he had to realise it was about what other opportunities opened up for him, rather than accepting his condition.
"He started sessions in wheelchair basketball, archery and of course tennis, where he showed natural ability and excelled."
Since then, Hewett has gone on to become a 26-time major champion, having won eight titles in singles and 18 in doubles, the latter all partnering Gordon Reid.
Hewett's talent on the court has helped lead to a rise in the sport's popularity off it. Experts agree wheelchair tennis, and its poster boy Hewett, both have a bright future.
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Anthony added: "His level of play and determination has raised the profile but off the court he does a lot in the community, helping courses with training and education. He also recently turned the Christmas lights on in Hethersett.
"It’s as equally important for Alfie to bring wheelchair tennis to the forefront, as it is winning competitions and he gets just as much being a part of where the sport is heading than he does with his individual success."
Hewett will go up against cricketer Stuart Broad, jockey Frankie Dettori, footballer Mary Earps, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and golfer Rory Mcllroy for the award.
Viewers will be able to vote for Hewett on the night.
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