Megan Shackleton

Started: She took up the sport at age 12 in England. (lancashiretelegraph.co.uk, 18 Jun 2014) Reason: "I had swum competitively from the age of five and played tennis. So I've always enjoyed sport. I first started playing table tennis at the age of 12 after I attended a Playground to Podium event in Leeds [in England], where I met coach Shaun Alvey. He persuaded me to come along to his club Albert Premier TTC regularly, and I soon fell in love with the sport. The thing I loved about table tennis from the start is that there are so many aspects that make a good player." (bbc.com, 17 Jul 2024; sportsaid.org.uk, 08 Apr 2015; lancashiretelegraph.co.uk, 18 Jun 2014) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (bbc.com, 17 Jul 2024) Additional Info: PARIS PLACE She received a place to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris through the bipartite commission invitation allocation. "My face is aching from smiling, I am so over the moon. It has been a rollercoaster over the last 18 months. I've been going to as many competitions as possible to get ranking points, I came third in the qualifying tournament which was not enough. I had processed I wasn't going to Paris." (bbc.com, 17 Jul 2024; skysports.com, 05 Sep 2021) STUDY BREAK She took a break from her English literature studies at the University of Sheffield in order to pursue a spot at the 2024 Paralympic Games. She intends to resume her studies in February 2025. "I have missed it. I enjoy having that challenge academically. Maybe I even love literature equally as much as I love table tennis, I had great teachers in school who gave me a real passion. I'm also interested in journalism, I love wanting to tell other people's stories. I can't imagine not studying English and not playing sport. Books and sport, these are the things that make me be me." (bbc.com, 17 Jul 2024)