Minnesota’s Ian Seidenfeld wins bronze for table tennis at Paralympics
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Ian Seidenfeld competed against Italy’s Matteo Parenzan for a spot in the gold medal match on Thursday night, but fell short and took home the bronze. In 2020, Seidenfeld won gold at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
“I worked really hard to win both of these medals,” Seidenfeld told teamusa.com. “So, the medals are great. But, I just appreciate how I persevered through a lot of challenges throughout the last three years. And then I know I’ll persevere through the next four more.”
Seidenfeld says he hopes his win continues to increase the popularity for the spot and pointed to Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards as helping the cause as well.
Edwards became a fan of table tennis during the Olympic games. Seidenfeld said Edwards is his favorite basketball player, and he hopes to meet him one day.
Seidenfeld is from Lakeville and attended the University of Minnesota. His father, Mitch Seidenfeld, began teaching him how to play table tennis when he was five. Mitch Seidenfeld competed in the Paralympics in 1992, 1996 and 2008, earning four medals — two of them gold. He is also in table tennis Hall of Fame.
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