Tapper makes Olympic Paralympic history

Table tennis player Melissa Tapper has made Australian sporting history by becoming the first athlete to qualify for both the Rio Olympics and Paralympics.

Australian table tennis player Melissa Tapper

Melissa Tapper has become the first Australian athlete to qualify for the Olympics and Paralympics. (AAP)

Table tennis player Melissa Tapper has become the first Australian athlete to qualify for both the Olympics and Paralympics.

The 26-year-old booked her ticket to the Rio Olympics at the Oceania qualifying competition in Bendigo on Friday.

The London Paralympian, who was born with nerve damage in her right arm, had already qualified for the 2016 Paralympics.

Tapper defeated Fiji's Grace Rosi Yee at the Bendigo event to secure her spot, but admitted she was "ridiculously nervous."

"I'm just so happy that it's over," she said.

"I don't think it's really sunk in yet, but I have a huge sense of relief."

The Victorian said her husband and coach, 2000 Sydney Olympian Simon Gerada, was a huge inspiration in qualifying for the able-bodied games.

"To be honest the only person who thought I could do it was Simon," she said.

"Even coming into this week I didn't give myself a chance. Now I'm just stoked that I get to go to the Olympics."

Tapper will be joined by Jian Fang Lay, who secured the second women's singles position and will compete at a record-equaling fifth Olympics in Brazil.

Meanwhile, David Powell will compete in his first Games, four years after narrowly missing qualification for the London Olympics.

The second men's singles position will be filled by Chinese-born Chris Yan.


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Source: AAP



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