Piotr Grudzien

Started: He took up the sport in 2005 in Poland. (Athlete, 14 Oct 2015) Reason: He was influenced by his father. "At first, I didn't like table tennis, I preferred football and volleyball. Table tennis was a sport for the winter, when it was impossible to play outside. Later, I started to play table tennis with my father, and little by little it became my passion." (wmeritum.pl, 09 Feb 2017; Athlete, 14 Oct 2015) Awards: In 2013 he was honoured with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by the president of Poland. (podlasie24.pl, 14 Sep 2016) He was named the 2010 Best Athlete with an Impairment of the Year in Zielona Gora, Poland. (mosir.zgora.pl, 21 Jan 2011) In 2008 he received the Gold Cross of Merit from the president of Poland. (sejm.gov.pl, 15 Dec 2008) Additional Info: PARALYMPIC EXPERIENCE He won silver in singles at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing at age 16. "I never imagined that at that age I would win a medal at the Paralympic Games, something many players work for all their lives. I went to the Paralympics in Beijing as a wild card and won silver, losing in the gold medal match to a Chinese player [Chen Gang]. I started early, but that's good because I've gained experience, got stronger, and become better at playing big matches like that." (wmeritum.pl, 09 Feb 2017)