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Bly Twomey, 14, eyes gold after Paralympic debut

Christian Fuller & PA Media
BBC News, South East
Getty Images Bly Twomey playing at the Paralympics Getty Images
Brighton's Bly Twomey is dreaming of a gold medal at Los Angeles 2028

Bly Twomey is dreaming of a gold medal at Los Angeles 2028 after claiming her second bronze medal of an impressive Paralympics debut in Paris.

The 14-year-old, from Brighton, East Sussex, became Great Britain's youngest Paralympic table tennis medallist by winning doubles bronze alongside Fliss Pickard in the WD14 classification event last week.

After a semi-final defeat to world champion Kubra Korkut in the women's class seven singles, she has secured her second bronze medal of the games.

“I'm really proud to represent my country and it's just been an amazing experience,” she said.

Twomey, who has cerebral palsy, began the match well, but her experienced opponent turned the tide before progressing with a 9-11 7-11 11-6 11-5 11-5 victory.

"It's a lot to win two bronze medals at my first Paralympic games at the age of 14,” she said.

"It gives me a lot of hope to know that I'm on the same level as them. It gives me a lot of confidence because I think maybe I can get a gold in the future."

The teenager was ed by identical twin sister Ellis and a vocal contingent from Brighton Table Tennis Club at South Paris Arena.

Getty Images Bly Twomey receiving her bronze medal alongside Fliss PickardGetty Images
Bly Twomey won a bronze medal alongside Fliss Pickard

Twomey said the sport had changed her life, having only taken up table tennis three years ago.

"When I first started table tennis, I wasn't confident at all," she said.

"I couldn't really go places or into big crowds because I was afraid people might get rid of me because of my disability. But now I'm here, everyone has a disability.”

She added: "Brighton Table Tennis Club have done a lot for me. They've been an amazing part of my experience and without them I couldn't have achieved any of this."

Her sister Ellis said: "I feel really proud of her, she's come so far in the short time she's been playing.

"She's become a lot more aware and happy of her disability. She used to be quite sad and think of herself as not as good as other people."

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