USA Table Tennis Seeking Applicants for Para Residency Training Program

USATT Joins Forces with the United States Performance Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Establish an Elite-Level Performance Training Residency for Select Para Table Tennis Athletes

(Colorado Springs, CO – June 7, 2023) – USA Table Tennis (“USATT”) the National Governing Body for the sport of table tennis, today announced a joint partnership with the United States Performance Center [“USPC”] in Charlotte, North Carolina, to establish a high-performance training residency for para table tennis athletes. USATT is currently seeking applicants for the full-time training program, which will utilize the USPC facilities on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

“We’re extremely excited to announce this partnership with the United States Performance Center in Charlotte,” said USATT Chief Executive Officer Virginia Sung. “This residency training program offers a tremendous opportunity for our organization to continue our efforts to develop the best para table tennis athletes in the world. This multi-faceted program will provide the selected athletes with a clear plan and path for each athlete to reach his or her full potential. USATT has already partnered with the USPC on several events, and our experience has led us to conclude that the USPC is a high-quality organization dedicated to the health, well-being and physical and mental development of American athletes.”

The USATT Para Residency Training Program, which is expected to begin this fall, will be a full-time residency program based in Charlotte and will include an intensive table tennis training regimen led by the US Para National Team Coaching Staff. The program will utilize the USPC’s resources for strength and conditioning training, enlist the support of the USPC’s professional athletic training staff, and provide offerings in elite-level mental preparation for competition. The program is also expected to undertake the process of developing American table tennis athletes for the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.

A panel of esteemed and experienced table tennis professionals will review the applicants and select the participants for the USATT Para Residency Training Program. The panel includes: (i) Olympic Medalist and USATT Para Program Director, Jasna Rather; (ii) Paralympic Gold Medalist and USATT Board Member, Tahl Leibovitz; (iii) Paralympic Gold Medalist and Para National Team Head Coach, Mitch Seidenfeld; (iv) Tokyo 2020 Paralympic US Coach and US Para National Team Coach, Vlad Farcas; (v) Chair of Athlete Advisory Council, Tara Profitt; and (vi) Chair of Para High-Performance Committee, Pam Fontaine.

To be considered for the program, which includes stipends to fully cover the costs of lodging and training, athletes must be eligible to represent the United States in the 2023 Para Pan American Games and the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Priority will be given to those athletes who are current members of the US Para National Team and in the top 50% of the World Ranking in their particular class. Also, athletes who are considered 2028 Paralympic Hopefuls based on their performance at the US Para Pan American Games Trials and the 2023 ITTF Para US Open upcoming in Fort Worth, Texas, will be given priority.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest directly to the USATT Para Program Director, Jasna Rather (jasna@usatt.org).

Originally started in 2013, the USPC is dedicated to research-based athletic development, injury prevention and overall health and wellness. The USPC has pioneered an integrated approach to performance training in a number of sports, utilizing proper nutrition protocols and state of the art technology to offer training programs that help athletes reach their full potential.  The vision of the USPC has continued to grow through partnerships of sports engaged in the Olympic movement, including USA Taekwondo and USA Women’s Field Hockey.

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