Active Life Changing Lives Ep 2 | Kisah Inspiratif The Devos Brothers Atlet Pingpong Asal Belgia

foreign table tennis since I was eight years old we started quite small but pretty soon we realized that I had a quite a good talent for table tennis I played for the national team of Belgium we made some good results with the national team one year I was number one in Belgium right now I'm still in the top three in 2016 I found the paralympic games in here it was my first Olympic Games I prolonged my title in Tokyo in 2021 in between I was three times with a European champion and two times world champion who's Robin the boss and we are much for life but not for life [Applause] yeah I started when I was seven years old to play badminton together with my older brother but after one year we were kind of tired of it so we were looking for another Sport and then we just came out by accident in the table tennis club and we had a lot of fun and we were quite talented let's say so we really started to practice more and harder until yeah the moment came where we have to decide whether to focus on studies or another job or whether to focus really on Modern table tennis I hope you learned something try to practice these skills and hopefully you'll become a better table tennis player the choice for me was to focus really more on table tennis and that's when I became a official professional player [Music] [Applause] [Music] first I was doing horse horse riding because the doctor said that horse riding is good for my for my muscles after when I was six years old my two older brothers they played table tennis and one day I joined them also in the club and actually I continue playing table tennis and then I had a chance to go to the doctor school but there was a big question because I have a handicap and it was also by the able bodies so they didn't know actually if my handicap will be worse or the people will play on my handicap and that I will never reach a high level with able bodies and actually I always looked up to to Robin because he always played for the national team and I also wanted to become better than him and that's also why I started I think just because of my two brothers they were playing table tennis if they were not playing table tennis I think maybe I would never have played a table tennis and I would maybe end up doing all the sports or I don't know the combination in the beginning of school and sports there was a very big challenge because you kind of lose your youth a little bit when my friends were in the weekend partying and going out with friends I didn't have that chance because I really had to to study or rest or practice table tennis but it's just every day the same you know you have to sacrifice your to do extra stuff you want to become a better athlete you have to do more than the other people so yeah that was really hard sometimes [Music] follow me we're going to that seat now you see this is my seat mode it's moving bro and for me it's just also not nice to hear it already from a young age that people that didn't believe in me that I can reach a high level by able-bodied players because I want disability for me just like this if you are already the best in your age at that time why you cannot be the best in the longer time of your career so this is actually always my motivation to show to them that even if I have a disability that you can still reach a high level no matter what and you just have to hard work four five these people actually I'm thankful for them that they didn't believe in me and that I was just want to prove that they were wrong and and I work off every day [Music] [Music] I never know how the Eggman came with me yes we are here in Jurassic Park be careful of the T-Rex careful of the little rats you know to your right you can see yeah I think for uh for every athlete it's important to have this rest I think that's why also I didn't have so many major injuries because I always strict with when I rest when I practice because the rest is also the same important as all the practices I wish I lived here the trees are strong enough what's the maximum wage and we are here in Bali enjoying time with the family and just enjoying the nice weather and nice sightseeing here in Bali just eat your head sometimes a little bit off and to enjoy now the time with the family to let your mind think about something else it's also good because if you continue continue practicing at some point you just go to practice without wanting to play I don't care I will do it if I'm dead guys I love you guys I love you [Music] I love you guys there's a net there's a net to catch me by phone you are my friends okay the three gonna collapse this guy I just gave my life in his hands I'm still alive bro my advice to fellow athletes who want to achieve something is work harder than anyone else and you will get it [Music] I have to give an advice is that you just have to follow your dreams no matter what and let nothing be in your past just go for it okay [Music] if you want to thank everyone who is watching this and also a big thanks to ataron for sharing our story makassi [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music]