Local Table Tennis star Jack Hunter Spivey is hopeful he can earmark another chapter in his career by reaching this Summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The 25 year old, born in Anfield, is currently top of the UK rankings which means he will enter the upcoming qualifiers as the overall eighth seed.
Spivey, admits he has been doing all he can during the long lay off caused by the pandemic to remain fully prepared for the upcoming events.
”The first lockdown I wasn’t able to train at all really until a few months in I was able to get hold of a table to fit into my flat”
”My flat was only fairly small and me and my girlfriend had to live with this Table Tennis table in the living room for a 6-8 months and I was training on that as much as I could”
He added: ”At the moment I’m just thankful that Elite Sport is back open and I’m still able to train – Im just trying to approach it like another season really.”
With last Summer’s Tokyo Paralympic Games postponed until 2021 – Spivey is aiming to represent Team GB for the second time in his career.
The process hasn’t been easy for Jack, who currently lives and trains in Sheffield, as he admits set backs and cancellations has been a real challenge to gain momentum with the Tokyo Games the end goal.
”I went from being safely qualified to just outside the qualification criteria to tournaments being cancelled”
Spivey added: ”It boils down to winning the qualification tournament taking place in June and I’m really confident i’ll be able to do that”
”For me its all about winning that competition and bringing home a medal in Tokyo in 2021, – I’m hell bent on bringing home a medal for Team GB”
A huge Liverpool FC fan, Jack has also paid homage to the recent ‘True Athlete Project’ – which brings together young athletes with experienced players at international levels.
Currently coached by former snooker world champion and BBC commentator Ken Doherty – Spivey has praised his new coach in providing key pieces of advice in the build up to major tournaments.
”Being part of the project this year has been and absolute god send for me, having Ken as my mentor for the next 12 months is incredible”
”Not only as a snooker fan myself growing up – also as someone who’s an elite athlete who’s been there and done that in his sport”
The Team GB hopeful added : ”Me and Ken speak twice a week on FaceTime – its just been incredible to learn everything I can from him.”
Jack returns to action in the ITTF Paralympic Table Tennis Qualifiers on June 3.
