Naomi Owen is the Welsh number One and world number 393. She juggles her time between living in Wales, playing league matches in France, training in Sheffield with the other Olympic hopefuls and studying for a degree in Psychology and Sport. Although she wouldn’t mind Olympic selection being another addition to her impressive schedule.
Name:
Naomi Owen
Date of birth:
3rd June 1988
Club:
Miramas (near Marseille, France)
Who are you?
I am 23 years old, I have three brothers and I was brought up and still live in a town in Mid Wales called Llandrindod Wells. I am currently based in Sheffield where the British Table Tennis Centre is to train with the rest of the potential squad in the build up to London 2012. I play in a professional league in France and have done so for three years. I will be starting my fourth year in France this September. Before playing league in France I played for two years in Germany. I recently came back from Japan where I took part in intensive training and the Japan Open.
I receive a great deal of support from my family and many competitions I have to fund myself with help from my parents. With table tennis being a minority sport within Wales and the UK there is very limited funding available.
I also studied a BTEC in sport and exercise science and a HNC in sports performance enhancement at Coleg Powys Brecon.
Proudest moment:
At 14 getting selected for Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. Winning British Senior Singles Championships 2009. Seven times Welsh Women’s Singles Champion. Beating world no.75 Xu Jie from Poland.
When/how did you get involved with table tennis:
I was first introduced to table tennis when I was on holiday in Butlins when I was eight years old. Really enjoyed it and when I got back I started in my local club (Llandrindod Wells) and it progressed from there.
What does the Olympics mean to you?
It is my ambition and dream to compete in an Olympic Games and it is even more special that I have the chance to compete in an Olympic Games on home soil.
Social media:
I have a facebook account Naomi Owen
I am looking to set up my own website and twitter account.