Teenager Twomey California Dreaming

Three years after taking up table tennis 14-year-old Bly Twomey was standing on the podium at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with four-time Paralympic champion Kelly van Zon, World and European champion Kubra Korkut and five-time Asian Para Games champion Wang Rui.

“It feels amazing to stand on the podium with the other incredible athletes,” said Twomey. “I think they’ve all been amazing, and when I’m standing on the podium with them, I think I’m like them and I’m really proud to stand on that podium with those guys.

“I think I started out really well in the semi-final and to be 2-0 up against the World number two was incredible. I think maybe I could go far in table tennis and maybe get a gold if I just keep going the way I am.

“I’ve learnt a lot from playing here. The atmosphere has been absolutely amazing and I’m really excited to see how the future goes. I’m aiming for the Paralympics in LA and maybe get a better medal than bronze – I’m just going to keep going how I am, keep playing and keep working hard.”

Meanwhile it’s back to school for Twomey on Tuesday where everyone at Cardinal Newman School in Brighton has been cheering her on.

“I think everyone is going to be so proud and astonished about what I’ve done,” she said, “and I just think they’ve been by my side so much and I’m just so proud to have them there for me.”