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Lily Zhang's Journey from Laundromat to Olympic Table Tennis Star

KVIA•Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 7:42 PM•CNN Newsource

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Lily Zhang, a table tennis Olympian, began her journey at a laundromat where she discovered her passion for the sport at age seven. Raised by Chinese immigrant parents, she quickly rose through the ranks, joining the US national team by 12 and competing in her first Olympics in 2012. Despite contemplating retirement after each Olympic appearance, her love for the game kept her engaged, leading to her participation in the Tokyo and upcoming Paris Olympics. Zhang has also gained recognition in the LGBTQ+ community and made history as the first female player to top the Major League Table Tennis power rankings in 2023. With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, she emphasizes enjoying the game rather than focusing solely on results.

Key Details: • Lily Zhang began playing table tennis at age 7. • She competed in her first Olympics in 2012 at just 12 years old. • Zhang is the first female player to top the Major League Table Tennis power rankings in 2023. • She aims to compete in her fifth Olympics in 2028, which will be held in Los Angeles.

community sports olympics lgbtq table-tennis

People & Organizations

Los AngelesSan FranciscoLily ZhangJessie XiaoAnthony EdwardsTimothee ChalametMajor League Table Tennis

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