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.
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