Olympic Games | 23 Jul 2024

POTA arrived at her fifth Olympics

Georgina PÓTA'S example can inspire every young athlete. Through her dedication, perseverance, and passion, she has become one of the greatest stars of Hungarian table tennis, continually setting new goals to further enhance her country’s reputation.

"I am proud of what I have achieved so far, but there is always room for improvement. My dream is to achieve more international success and to crown my Olympic participation with a great result," said POTA in the interview made by Hungarian Table Tennis Association Marketing and PR manager Vanda FILIPOWICZ.

PÓTA, began her sports career at the age of five, following in her mother's footsteps.

 "My mom played table tennis at ESMTK and took me to her training sessions. When I was five years old, I said I wanted to try it too. That's how it all started," Gina recalled.

Initially, she approached training as a game, but it soon became clear that she had significant talent. At the age of six, she transferred to Statisztika PSC, where she began training daily, gradually increasing her training hours.

"There was no question about what sport I would choose; this was perfect for me. I’m not a big runner or a gym girl," Gina said, highlighting how much she enjoyed the playfulness and variety of table tennis.

She excelled in both youth and adult categories, as reflected in her first newspaper article: "My first newspaper article appeared when I was 13 or 14, written by Miki SZŰCS, saying that I was a rookie on the main draw."

Throughout her career, Gina gained a wealth of experience and achieved numerous successes. Her notable achievements include her first Champions League victory with Statisztika and the European Championship title in doubles with Krisztina TÓTH. "There were always very good players at Statisztika, including foreign players like Tamara BOROS and Kriszti TÓTH, who were my role models. We also won the European Championship."

For Gina, table tennis was not just a sport but a way of life, and she always aimed to get better: "At home, I had a trophy room, not a playroom, but a trophy room, and I used to arrange my trophies there."

The Beijing Olympics hold particularly fond memories for Gina, where she participated with Petra LOVAS and Kriszti TÓTH.

"The Olympics was a great experience. The venue was enormous, and everything was new. It was strange to go to such a huge complex after smaller competitions." Gina acknowledges that participating in the Olympics is especially challenging for a European table tennis player: "I always thought that qualifying for the Olympics was a great achievement, but I was quite far from being a medal contender. I know my limits and what I am capable of, and a medal seemed out of reach."

Gina's future also holds challenges, and she sets ambitious goals for herself.

"I'd be happy to make it into the top 16," she said regarding the Paris Olympics, indicating that she realistically assesses her chances but still sets high goals.

 "First, I have to compete in a qualification tournament. I have to play against the best in the world, but I really want it, and I hope I can make it."

Throughout her career, Gina has developed significantly both technically and mentally. She has successfully adapted to the changing landscape of the sport and faced opponents with various playing styles.

Her experience playing in Germany has also been invaluable: "Playing in Germany had a very positive impact on my game because I learned to play against defenders, penhold players, pimpled rubber players, and left-handers. In Berlin, I played many matches against different styles, whereas at home, there weren't many defenders or pimpled rubber players, which greatly improved my game."

During her years in Germany, Gina not only improved her game but also grew as a person.

"I learned a lot about independence and responsibility. In Germany, I had to manage on my own, which helped me immensely in all aspects of life."

Additionally, the competitions and continuous challenges there contributed to her better understanding her own limits and capabilities.