Table Tennis Olympian Earns Respect, Heads to Columbia

Eight years ago, 34-year-old Chen Wang left China’s table tennis team, because she felt she was not respected enough by her teammates. Today, she earned that respect by becoming the first American to ever make it into the table tennis quarterfinals at the Olympics.

Having made history, Wang now intends to retire from the sport and attend Columbia University.

USA Today reports:

Wang, ranked No. 23 coming into the Games, says she will no longer compete and will focus on her eponymous Manhattan table tennis club. She also plans to attend Columbia University where she'll study sports management…

 

She says she's proud of her achievement in Beijing and hopes it will bring more attention to the game in her adopted country.

 

"If I can make people see it, then I am happy," Wang said.

Dare to dream, Ms. Wang.

If football soccer, one of the most popular sports in the world, has failed to make a big splash in America, I doubt table tennis ever will.

Still, take comfort in the fact that, at the very least, Columbia's table tennis team will worship you like a god.