Despite her early exit, 58-year-old Chilean table tennis player Zeng Zhiying proved that achieving the Olympic dream is still possible no matter the age.
Every athlete dreams of one day playing in the Olympics.
While some are lucky enough to achieve that at such a young age, many continue to dream amid the ongoing Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Filled with all sorts of players of different ages and backgrounds, the story of Chilean table tennis player Zeng Zhiying in Paris 2024 has been stealing the spotlight.
At 58-years-old, Zeng made her “dream come true" after making her Olympic debut on Saturday, falling short in the preliminary round.
Zeng, who represented China as a young player before retiring at age 20, moved to Chile where she has lived for the past 35 years.
She did not play table tennis for decades until the pandemic prompted her to pick up the paddle again, and she quickly ascended to become one of South America's top players.
Zeng quickly rose to fame in Chile after winning a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Santiago last year.
Her remarkable comeback journey led her to Paris to the Olympics. Unfortunately, she lost her debut to Lebanon's Mariana Sahakian in the preliminary round, 1-4.
Playing in front of a full house, and with enthusiastic support from fans, Zeng described the experience as a “great reward.”
“Looking back, it seems that my skills have recovered a little. I started to participate in some international competitions last year. Fortunately, my mental, technical, and physical conditions are still up to par,” said Zeng in Mandarin.
“Being able to enter the Olympics today is also a great reward for me. I think this dream has been every athlete’s dream for many years. I realized it at the age of 58, so I am also very happy and excited,” she added.
With experience on her side, Zeng said that there was no pressure on her stage; she was simply eager to play on the big stage.
Before the Chilean table tennis player made her Olympic debut, Zeng made sure to thank her father and brother for the support they’ve given throughout her journey back to the sport.
“I am grateful to my father and my brother. They have been paying attention to our game. I hope you will pay attention to me today. I am sure you are sitting by the TV and watching my game. They have already cheered me on yesterday and sent me the video. Now I will give you gifts with my best efforts,” said Zeng.
It might have been an early exit for Zeng, but her Olympic story will be remembered for years to come.