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Smith set to compete in Deaflympics

Story written by David Parker, reprinted from the Koori Mail newspaper
30 June 30 2004

Mandy Smith has made such rapid progress in just over 12 months after taking up table tennis, the Sydney-sider has been chosen to compete for Australia at the Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne next year.

Smith took up the game after attending the Australian Deaf Games in April last year. She writes: "I went to the Australian Deaf Games which was held in April, 2003. I watched the table tennis players in action and from that I realised I could have a go!"

Smith later decided to play at the Greenacre YMCA training hall in Sydney. She participated in the Athletes with Disabilities National Championships a month later (May 21­23), playing in the singles and women's doubles events.

"I learnt a lot from the deaf table tennis players at Greenacre," Smith says. "Now I am in the Australian Deaflympic Team and I am very excited to represent Australia in table tennis."

Smith trains regularly with a professional table tennis coach. She has since competed at the NSW Stiga Open Championships at Homebush.

Smith is an Aboriginal deaf person and was raised with her family at Menindee. She moved to Sydney to attend the North Rocks School for the Deaf Children. Lately, she has been actively involved in the Deaf community and works as a data entry clerk at a software company in Frenchs Forest. Smith uses Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate with her friends.

She hopes to one day meet her inspiration, Cathy Freeman.

For further information on DSA and the Australian Deaflympic Team, please contact Brett Hidson at: or on mobile 0412 887 791 or (03) 9473 1154 (voice).
For further information about the 20th Deaflympic Games, visit the Melbourne 2005 Deaflympic Games website: www.2005deaflympics.com