Burnley's Fliss Pickard has been included in a squad of 11 athletes that will represent ParalympicsGB in the table tennis events at the Paralympic Games in Paris next month.

Having taken bronze in the World Championships in 2018 the 29-year-old was devastated to miss out on qualification for Tokyo 2020 but has since shown huge character and determination to establish herself as one of the top players in women's class 6, winning six tournaments and taking bronze in the European Championships last year.

"It hasn't been a smooth journey, but I can be very pleased with where I am now," said Pickard, "and how much I've changed as a person both on and off the table. To be in this position is unbelievable. If you had asked me a few years ago I thought it would never happen so to be able to call myself a Paralympian is really special and it does mean an awful lot.

"I wouldn't have said this at the time but the disappointment of not going to Tokyo was probably one of the best things that happened to me and I can look back and be very proud of how I dealt with everything. The way I've come back and my level now - not just my table tennis technically but mentally strong – I can go in to every match now with confidence and I believe I am right at the top of the game and I'm very pleased with how far I've come in the last three years.

"It would be incredible to take a medal and it would mean the absolute world but I'm going to take one match at a time and focus on what I do best. That is graft and if I have to get 100 balls on the table then I'll get 101 and that is the way I've always been."

Pickard became a World champion in doubles in 2022 with Grace Williams and will also compete in the women's class 14 doubles in Paris with 14-year-old Bly Twomey.

"I've definitely grown as a person and an athlete through playing doubles," she said. "I'm learning to communicate better, and it has definitely improved me as an athlete because it is a lot more demanding on my movement.

"It is going to take time but I think Bly and I have gelled really well. We are both very similar in our mindset - we both want to win and are natural fighters and she has got great enthusiasm for the game. It has really calmed me down and helped me to just have fun and enjoy the game so it has been fantastic playing with Bly."

The table tennis events in Paris will take place from August 29-September 7 at the South Paris Arena 4 with the doubles events preceding the singles.

Media Enquiries:

For further information about the British Para Table Tennis Team and/or photographs please contact the BPTT media officer Francesca Bullock on 07768 515841 or email: francesca@fbullock.co.uk

Further information about Fliss Pickard is available here: https://www.britishparatabletennis.com/blogs/players/fliss-pickard

Follow the British Para Table Tennis Team on X (Twitter) @BritishParaTT