One-armed table tennis player makes history

Brazil's Bruna Alexandre smashes and chops just like the other table tennis players at the Paris Olympics but when serving she uses the paddle in her left hand to throw the ball high.

That move was what she once struggled with as a one-armed girl.

At three months old, Alexandre lost her arm due to a blood clot. She picked up table tennis at the age of seven and went on to win several championships, plus a bronze at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 and silver at Tokyo 2021.

Now she has made history as only the third athlete to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, following South African runner Oscar Pistorius and Polish table tennis player Natalia Partyka.

"Never give up on your dreams. Believe that everything is possible," the 29-year-old said.

But her Olympic journey was cut short when Brazil lost to the top-ranked South Korean team 3-1 in the first round. Alexandre played in both singles and doubles during the tie.

REUTERS