Zhiying Zeng Realizes Olympic Dream at 58, Competing in Table Tennis for Chile

Paris, August 2, 2024: Defying the odds and inspiring millions, 58-year-old Zhiying Zeng made her Olympic debut in table tennis, representing Chile at the Paris 2024 Olympics. With the average age of Olympians being 27, Zeng’s achievement is a remarkable testament to perseverance and the enduring pursuit of dreams.

Zeng’s journey began in China, where she joined the national team at 16 and quickly gained a reputation as a table tennis phenom. However, her career was cut short in 1986 due to a rule change in paddle colors, which drastically affected her game. Feeling disheartened, she retired at just 20 years old without having competed in the Olympics.

Fast forward 38 years, Zeng rekindled her passion during the COVID-19 lockdown, purchasing a ping pong table and dedicating hours to practice daily. Her hard work paid off, as she became Chile’s top-ranked woman in table tennis and a national hero after leading the country to a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Despite losing in the preliminary rounds to Lebanon’s Mariana Sahakian, Zeng’s participation in the Paris Olympics has fulfilled a lifelong dream, one she shared with her family. “It was our family’s dream, and mine, to play in the Olympic Games… I’m now 58 years old and my dad is 92. I finally made that dream come true for him,” Zeng said.

Zeng trains three hours a day, Monday to Friday, balancing her passion with the physical realities of her age. “When you’re young, nothing hurts. Now, if I play too much I get shoulder ache,” she remarked.

Zeng’s story serves as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. “At my age, you have to play with happiness, not anguish,” she stated. “I didn’t reach my dream in China, and I have here [Chile]. It’s important not to give up.”