Ding Yi

Born in China, table tennis player Ding Yi moved to Europe at the age of 25. He became an Austrian citizen in 1987 and won the country’s national title seven times in a row from 1988-94. In 1990 Ding Yi won a bronze medal at the European Championships in the mixed event with Bulgarian Daniela Gergelcheva. He also participated in seven World Championships between 1989-2000.

Ding Yi became a four-time Olympian: 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, and 2000 Athens. He reached the quarter-finals in the men’s singles in 1992 as his best Olympic result.

Ding Yi played in Austria with Klub Raiffeisen Kuchl and Union Wolkersdorf. In 1996, he moved to TTC Frickenhausen, and in 2000 to TTC Rhön-Sprudel Fulda-Maberzell in Germany. He then returned to Wolkersdorf in Austria and played briefly with Mauthausen before moving to TTC Baar in Switzerland.