Zeng Zhiying has achieved what many considered impossible. At the age of 58, the athlete born in China and naturalized as a Chilean has made her debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, representing Chile in table tennis.

Her story is marked by a series of unexpected twists. At 18, Zeng was at the pinnacle of table tennis, considered one of the best players in the world. However, a rule change in the sport, which switched from two-sided paddles to a single-sided one, altered her game and led to her exclusion from the Chinese Olympic team. Frustrated, she retired from the sport at 20.

Shortly after, Zeng moved to Chile, where she began coaching various table tennis teams. In 2000, she decided to step away from the sport to pursue a career in a different field, completely distancing herself from table tennis. Twenty years passed without her touching a paddle, until the COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to return to the sport she once loved. She bought a table and began playing again.

With renewed passion and determination, Zeng set her sights on returning to competition and representing Chile at the 2024 Olympics. Her hard work and perseverance paid off, and she achieved her dream. Now, at 58 years old, Zeng Zhiying is at the Olympics, proving that it is never too late to achieve your goals.

Zeng’s story is an inspiring testament to resilience and love for the sport, and her participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics is a monumental achievement in her career.