US table tennis star Lily Ann Zhang has made headlines by advancing to the top 16 in women’s singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeating Brazil’s Bruna Takashi. Born in California to Chinese immigrant parents, her four-time Olympian journey has been shaped by both her athletic achievements and her parents’ traditional expectations.
At 28, Zhang is a seasoned Olympian, having first competed in 2012 at the London Games. Despite her success, she continues to navigate the high expectations her parents have placed on her, which often emphasize academic success and a conventional career path.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Zhang’s mother, Linda Liu, expressed her wish for her daughter to pursue a more traditional career. “We always try to convince her to stop playing. We just want her to have a normal job,” Liu said. “We are traditional Chinese parents. We always want her to focus on school. I always wanted her to get a job and be a regular girl.”
Zhang acknowledges her mother’s concerns, noting the precarious nature of a sports career. “There’s so many things that can happen that can take away your stability in an instant,” she said.
Growing up on the Stanford University campus, where her father worked as a mathematics professor, Zhang was introduced to table tennis early. Her mother, a former provincial player from Xi’an, China, helped foster her skills. Zhang began her professional training at just seven years old, often practicing on the dining table of their small Palo Alto apartment.
Since her international debut in 2007, Zhang has represented the USA with distinction. Coach Jun Gao, who is of Chinese origin, remarked on the cultural pressures faced by many talented Asian athletes. “A lot of Asian parents—that’s why you see so many talented players, no matter boys or girls, after they reach college, they say bye bye,” Gao noted.
Despite these challenges, Zhang’s continued success on the global stage is a testament to her dedication and resilience.