At 58, 'Olympic grandmother' Zeng Zhiying makes stunning Olympic debut—proving dreams have no age limit!

To say that table tennis player Zeng Zhiying's life has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement.?

The highlight, though, has to be her Olympic debut at the 'mere' age of 58.

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Who is Zeng Zhiying?

The 'Olympic grandmother,' as she is lovingly called by Chileans, was born in Foshan, southern China.

Zeng was immersed in table tennis from an early age, thanks to her mother, a local coach.?

By 16, she was a promising player on China's national team. However, her career faltered before table tennis made its Olympic debut in 1988, leading her to leave the sport.

At 20, she retired and relocated to Chile, where she reinvented herself as Tania and spent 35 years building a new life.?

Initially, she paused her playing career to focus on teaching table tennis in northern Chile, starting a business, and raising a family.?

During the pandemic, her passion for the sport was reignited, sparking a remarkable comeback. She swiftly climbed the ranks to become one of South America's top players.?

Zeng Zhiying/ X

From there to the Paris Olympics, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.??

In an interview with The Associated Press at Chile's Olympic training center, Zeng reflected on her journey: "I never imagined (making it to the Olympic Games) because I took it up for entertainment, to do some sport. I gained confidence by playing a lot. Since I always won, I liked playing more and more. Qualifying for an Olympics is a big, gigantic dream, and being able to fulfill it at that age is a huge happiness."

Zeng's comeback culminated in her appearance at the Paris Olympics, where she faced Lebanon's Mariana Sahakian, in the preliminary round, losing 4-1. Despite the loss, playing in front of a packed house and a spirited group of Chilean fans made the experience deeply rewarding.

"After 30 years away from table tennis, being able to compete in the Olympics was a dream fulfilled," Zeng said, her words tinged with a Chilean accent.?

Her 92-year-old father's words of encouragement resonated deeply: "It is your lifelong dream, which is now fulfilled. Go at it, go with everything."

And go at it she did, proving that age is no barrier to following one's dreams.

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