Lily Zhang

Lily Zhang (@lilyyz) is a Chinese American table tennis player who competed fiercely today but lost in the round of 16. A four-time Olympian, this was her best performance to date. Lily’s father immigrated from China to teach math at Stanford, and her mother—a highly ranked player in China—introduced Lily to table tennis to help preserve their heritage and provide an extracurricular activity to support her college aspirations.

Growing up in a small home, their ping pong table doubled as the dining room table. Table tennis doesn’t offer big financial rewards—Lily won an international tournament earlier this year with a prize of just $650—but her love for the sport keeps her motivated. She hoped to win a medal in Paris to help promote table tennis. While she didn’t reach the podium, the crowd chanted her name with enthusiasm: “Lily” clap, clap, clap, “Lily” clap, clap, clap.

Lily says people are often amazed when they see table tennis in action, blown away by its speed and dynamism. My children have definitely become fans of hers and the sport.

Keep playing, Lily! Keep chasing your dreams. What matters most is the journey, the people you meet, and those you lift up along the way. Go Lily, go! #TeamUSA @make.us.visible

Size: 8 x 10