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Tokyo 2020: Natalia Partyka, the Paralympic athlete who also dreams of going far in the Olympic Games

2021-07-25T13:48:30.142Z


The table tennis player was born without her right hand and much of her arm, but that doesn't stop her from competing in both events.


07/24/2021 21:29

  • Clarín.com

  • sports

Updated 07/24/2021 9:29 PM

Natalia Partyka

began by sweeping

women's

table tennis

at these Olympic Games.

The Polish woman appeared in Tokyo 2020 with a resounding victory over Australian

Michelle Bromley

: she was 4-0 with sets of 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 and 11-7.

So far nothing out of this world.

But yes: she is a figure in Paralympic sport who also dreams of dedicating herself to these Games.

Because she was

born without a hand and without much of her right arm

, but that did not stop her from playing sports and she was not worried about choosing one in which her hands were essential tools.

In fact, he learned to hold the ball with his right forearm for the serve, and began to show increasing skill with the paddle on his left foot.

"I knew that the life of sports was not easy, especially when you are disabled and want to compete with athletes without disabilities. So I knew that I had to work very hard, maybe a little more than my friends, if I wanted to reach the top." , he recognized the

Olympic Channel

.


His talent was such that he reached the Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000, with only

11 years.

She was the youngest athlete in history to debut in this discipline.

Natalia Partyka's technique when serving.

Photo EFE

As if that had not been enough, at 15, in Athens, she returned to compete and this time she entered the golden books of sport: she

was left with the gold medal

, becoming the youngest champion in the history of Paralympic table tennis. .

There, in those events, he finds a very great motivation to go for more.

"Every time I go to the Paralympics and see the athletes, each one has their own story and it is very motivating. It makes you want to achieve more things, believe in yourself and know, because you see it, that

nothing is impossible,

" he says.

At 19 he achieved his other great task: to participate in the Olympic Games.

He did it in Beijing, where he competed in table tennis for people without disabilities.

Thus, of course, she was the first representative of this discipline to participate in

both events. 

To date, he has

four consecutive golds

in the Paralympic Games.

Would you be in a position to fight for a medal at Tokyo 2020?

It seems impossible but not because it lacks talent, but because it is a competition that is largely dominated by Asian women, especially Chinese.

Since the debut of the discipline in Seoul 1988, the table tennis players from that country have won

17 of the 25

medals that were awarded, a number that also translates into

14 of the 16

if only the gold and silver are taken into account.

Partyka is a figure in table tennis for people without disabilities.

Photo REUTERS / Luisa Gonzalez

But it was said: it is not because of Natalia's lack of hierarchy.

In fact, the Pole is a

four-time

European

champion

in table tennis for "fit" people, having beaten several of the best in the world.

In addition to the Asian dominance that in a way makes not occupying the podium almost more logical than anything else, Partyka ensures that she feels more comfortable in the Olympic Games due to the situation.

"It is much easier because I have no pressure:

nobody expects me to win a medal.

So I can enjoy the Games without any stress," he explains.

And there he goes, enjoying yet another Olympic experience and competing inch by inch with any rival.

There are no borders for this Polish star.

Look also

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, day 3: minute by minute, live

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Source: clarin

All news articles on 2021-07-25

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