From Rejection to Greatness
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute for Scotland at the University of Edinburgh, the Confucius Institute is proud to welcome Four-Time Olympic Champion Dr Deng Yaping for a special afternoon featuring an illustrated talk and fireside conversation.
Over a century ago, University of Edinburgh alumnus Eric Henry Liddell, Olympic gold medallist born in Tianjin, China, carried that spirit of excellence and resilience onto the world stage. Today, in that enduring tradition, we welcome one of the greatest champions in the history of sport.
Dr Deng will share her remarkable journey from early rejection to four Olympic gold medals and eighteen world championship titles, reflecting on resilience, high performance, women in sport, and the transformative power of sport in international understanding. She will be joined in conversation by Professor Grant Jarvie, Chair of Sport, and Mark Munro, Director of Sport and Active Health, both of the University of Edinburgh.
The event will conclude with a short audience question session, followed by a reception.
Biography
Dr Deng Yaping is one of the greatest table tennis players in history. Over her 14-year career, she captured four Olympic gold medals and 18 world championship titles, achieving the sport’s Grand Slam, and held the world No. 1 ranking for eight consecutive years, the longest such reign in women’s table tennis history.
Following her retirement, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University, a master’s degree from the University of Nottingham, and a doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
She served on the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes, Sports and Environment, and Ethics Commissions from 1997 to 2010, was the only athlete representative and ambassador for Beijing’s Olympic bids in 1993 and 2001, and served as Deputy Minister of the Olympic Village at the Beijing Games.
Key Information:
Date and time: Monday, 27th April, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Venue: South Hall, South Hall Complex, The University of Edinburgh, Pollock Halls of Residence, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AR
The event is free, but booking is required. Please reserve your place via Eventbrite HERE