Tahl Leibovitz

Started: He took up the sport in 1989 at South Queens Boys and Girls Club in New York, NY, United States of America. (Athlete, 12 May 2016; athletes.shaklee.com, 01 Mar 2017; paralympic.org, 04 Mar 2016) Reason: His parents struggled with substance abuse and mental illness, which led to him becoming homeless at age 13. He visited South Queens Boys and Girls Club to participate in a programme for at-risk young people, where he discovered table tennis. In 1995 he had a chance meeting with Chris Lehman, a coach of the US Para table tennis team, and discovered that he was eligible to compete at the Paralympic Games. "I saw some kids playing table tennis with wooden rackets and I enjoyed the sound of the ball. It opened a door for me and now I use the game to open the door for others." (athletes.shaklee.com, 01 Mar 2017; paralympic.org, 04 Mar 2016; ipttc.org, 01 Jun 2008; USA Table Tennis magazine, 2007) Ambition: To compete at the Paralympic Games in 2024 and 2028. (teamusa.com, 18 Nov 2023) Awards: In 2015 he was inducted into the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame. (teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2015) In 2006 he was named Player of the Year by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee [USOPC] and the United States Table Tennis Association [USTTA]. (teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2015) In 2003 and 2005 he was named Para Table Tennis Player of the Year by the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. (teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2015) He was named the 2005 Americas Player of the Year in the men's standing category. (ipttc.org, 19 Jun 2007) In 2004 he received the Crystal Apple Award for Outstanding Athletic Achievements from the mayor of New York City. (teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2015) Additional Info: PATH TO BECOMING A SOCIAL WORKER He was homeless at age 13 after being kicked out of the family home by his parents, who struggled with substance abuse. He dropped out of school and spent his days playing table tennis, before finding somewhere to sleep at night, such as on subway trains. He later studied social work at New York University and became a licensed social worker. "I spent a lot of time living on the streets of New York in my youth. I think my own background drove me to social work. I think when we do something there is the benefit of what we give to others and society and also the benefit of self. Being a licensed social worker allows me the opportunity to help others, but it's also a great career. I have so much flexibility. I do what I love. I am completely autonomous. There are so many benefits to doing this work. So, yes it is awesome and amazing to be able to be a part of enhancing the lives of others but it's also an outstanding career that personally gives me so much in a multitude of ways." (nyu.edu, 15 Dec 2023; teamusa.com, 18 Nov 2023) RETIREMENT PLANS He intends to retire from the sport following the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, by which time he will be age 53. He made his sixth Paralympic appearance at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. "I participated in my first Paralympics [in Atlanta] in 1996. Winning the gold medal in the United States was amazing. I told myself later that it would be awesome to finish my career in the United States. In 2028 the Paralympics will be held in Los Angeles. So I have that goal in mind. I focus on the experience of the Games and always ask myself the question of 'what if' when I am trying to achieve something great. When I set the goal, it's so far away. It's so difficult sometimes to be at the starting line and looking towards the monumental task of achieving something that is out of reach during that time. But I ask myself only one question, 'What if I actually achieved the goal?' What if I was actually able to represent the United States in my eighth Paralympics in Los Angeles? Even though it is so hard to do. What if I make the seventh one [at Paris 2024]? It's good to have goals that are out of reach and difficult to achieve. The best is to compete against yourself." (nyu.edu, 15 Dec 2023; teamusa.com, 18 Nov 2023) OTHER ACTIVITIES He and his wife Dawn founded Project Table Tennis, which has operated throughout the United States of America using table tennis in projects that help people affected by Alzheimer's, dementia, an impairment, substance abuse issues and more. He has also worked as a psychotherapist at New Pathways Counseling Center and Integrity Senior Services in New York, NY, United States of America. (Facebook profile, 28 Nov 2023; teamusa.com, 18 Nov 2023; peace-sport.org, 01 Jan 2019) AUTHOR In 2014 he released a book called 'Ping Pong for Fighters', which gives an insight into the experience and philosophy of table tennis at professional level. "I think what's interesting about this book is that the reader takes the journey with me. All that I learned in over 20 years of competing in table tennis, is in this book. The goal of this book is to try and get the reader to approach the game differently." (teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2019; amazon.com, 26 Nov 2014) FURTHER EDUCATION He has studied for master's degrees in clinical social work at New York University and in urban studies at Queens College, City University of New York in the United States of America. (Facebook profile, 28 Nov 2023)