Team USA Earns 3 Golds, 7 Medals at 2023 Para Pan Am Games
by Barbara Wei
The 2023 Para Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile, concluded on November 26th and the USA Table Tennis’s Para Athletes earned 7 total medals with 3 golds, improving upon their 2019 Para Pan Am Games results by one medal.
Tahl Leibovitz, Ian Seidenfeld, and Jenson Van Emburgh each earned golds in their singles divisions, punching their tickets to the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The trio are all past Paralympians and medal winners – they will be looking to repeat or improve upon their medals next year on the biggest stage for Paralympic Athletes.
Tahl, Ian and Jenson expressed their enthusiasm for making the team after their wins:
Medal ceremony table tennis men’s singles Class 9 at the Santiago 2023 Para Pan American Games at Nunoa’s Olympic Training Center on November 18 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by: Dragomir Yankovic)
“I walked 10 miles a day, and I did 200 push-ups and 100 pull ups every day…it feels great to qualify and be part of such a great team.” – Tahl Leibovitz
Medal ceremony table tennis men’s singles Class 6 at the Santiago 2023 Para Pan American Games at Nunoa’s Olympic Training Center on November 18 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by: Dragomir Yankovic)
“I didn’t get a chance to win last time at the [Pan Am] Games, and I didn’t know how excited I’d be. I was planning on being pretty stoic, but it was so special” – Ian Seidenfeld
Medal ceremony table tennis men’s singles Class 3 at the Santiago 2023 Para Pan American Games at Nunoa’s Olympic Training Center on November 18 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by: Dragomir Yankovic)
“It’s a surreal moment. I’ve been dreaming of winning the Para Pan Am Games since I lost in Lima 4 years ago. I’m super happy to be playing another Paralympics. I can’t wait to go to Paris and represent our country.” – Jenson Van Emburgh
After their wins, the 3 gold medalists turned their attention to doubles. The trio picked up their second medals, adding 3 bronze medals to the Team USA medal tally. Tahl partnered with Logan Watson in the Men’s Doubles MD18 division to clinch bronze. Logan also earned two medals as he won singles bronze in the Men’s Singles Class 9 division. Ian partnered with Marco Makkar for bronze in the Men’s Doubles MD14 division, while Jenson partnered with Pamela Fontaine to earn bronze in the Mixed Doubles XD4-7 division.