Profile for Rebecca Julian

1. Date of Birth.

2/12/1986

2. Which club(s) have you played for in Croydon?

Knox Table Tennis Club and Croydon and Districts Table Tennis Association

3. How did you become involved with table tennis?

My sports teacher at school suggested it to me so I went to a Saturday session  and then decided to join CDTTA. Three years later I was asked by Fran Keyhoe if I would like to play in the Inaugural Athletes with a Disability National Championships because of this I was encouraged to participate in International events for Paralympic Table Tennis.

4. And at what age was this?

13 years old

5. Who was your coach?

Alois Rosario

6. What is your highest Australian ranking?

 

No 1 Class 6 and No 1 Women’s Class 6 – 10
7. What is your highest World Ranking?

No 2 Class 6
8. How many and which Olympic Games did you participate in?

My first Paralympic Games was in Beijing, China 2008

9. What advice would you give to an up and coming player/umpire?

Never let anything stand in the way of achieving your goals. Anything is possible and achievable. Through hard work and determination you can achieve anything you set out to do.
10. Career Highlights

National

            2008 Table Tennis Australia AWD National Championships, Perth
                        Gold Medallist, Open Standing Women’s Singles
                        Gold Medallist, Class 6 Mixed Singles
                        Silver Medallist, Open Standing Mixed Doubles

International
           
            2008 Romanian Open
                        Bronze Medallist, Class 6 Women’s Singles

National

2007 Table Tennis Australia AWD National Championships, Lismore
                        Gold Medallist, Open Standing Women’s Singles
                        Gold Medallist, Class 6 Mixed Singles
                        Gold Medallist, Open Standing Mixed Doubles

International

            2007 US Open Paralympics Table Tennis Championships, Chicago
                        Gold Medallist, Class 6-7 Women’s Singles

            2007 Asian and Oceanian Table Tennis Championships, Seoul
                        Silver Medallist, Class 6-7 Women’s Singles
                        Bronze Medallist, Class 6-8 Team Event

            2007 ARAFURA Games, Darwin
                        Silver Medallist, Open Standing Women’s Singles
                        Sliver Medallist, Class 6-9 Women’s Singles

2005 Asia and South Pacific Table Tennis Championships, Kuala Lumpur
Bronze Medallist, Class 6-7 Women’s Singles
11. What do you do to prepare for a match?

I listen to music and do breathing exercises to help prepare my mind for the match I have ahead
12. Are there any differences in preparation that you would take before a Finals match compared to a preliminary round? If so, what would these be?

No. I try to treat every match the same.

13. Who has been your toughest opponent? Victorya Safanova from the Ukraine. She is the No 1 Class 6 and a good player
14. Can you tell us about your favorite match that you have played?

It was in the first round of the Paralympics in China. I drew the number 1 seed, a functional class higher than myself, Kelly Van Zon. I took her to 5 games and felt I had played the best table tennis I ever have.
15. Who is your favorite Table Tennis player?

Rainer Schmidt from Germany (Class 6).
16. Who has been the biggest influence and or inspiration throughout your sporting career?

My Dad Trevor. He has always been there supporting me and helping me in every aspect. Without him, I would not have achieved so much in the sport.
17. Who is your favorite non table tennis sportsperson and why?

Cathy Freeman and Lance Armstrong because they both battled through adversity to be number one in their sport.
18. What is your current Occupation?

I am a student. I have completed my Bachelor in Early Childhood Education degree and now plan to study Primary Teaching.
19. Player you played the most?

Victorya Stafanova ( Ukraine, Class 6)

20. What path did you take and what sacrifices did you make to become the player you did?

In order to achieve, I have had to sacrifice a lot. Because of my disability (Cerebral Palsy) I have faced many challenges. I am a very determined person and I have worked hard to accomplish my goals, giving up a lot in order to succeed and have had to balance my study and sporting commitments.