Quick facts
Birthdate
July 30, 1957
Hometown
Vancouver, BC
Residence
Vancouver, BC
Sport
Para table tennis
Experience
Guadalajara 2011
Lima 2019
Rio 2016
Santiago 2023
Toronto 2015
Stephanie Chan has competed at four Parapan American Games dating back to 2007. She has earned five medals at those Games including a memorable gold at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Ams in women’s singles 7 class.
That victory earned her ticket to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. She was the first Canadian woman table tennis player to compete at the Paralympics.
As of October 2023, at age 66, Chan is ranked 12th in the world in her category in singles and 10th in doubles. In the Americas rankings she is number-two in both events.
In Rio, she won two of her three matches in the preliminary round to advance to the semifinals. She lost the bronze medal match and placed fourth.
Three years later at the Parapan Ams in Lima, Chan was named Canada’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony. She earned a bronze at those Games.
Chan’s win in Toronto wasn’t her only historic victory in 2015. Chan joined forces with Turkey’s Kubra Ocsoy to take gold in the team event at the 2015 Bayreuth Open in Germany and become the first Canadian to win an event on the top European circuit. She added a bronze in singles.
Having had a personal interest in the sport since she was a child, Chan decided to take up table tennis to keep active. The feeling of defeating challenging opponents is what feeds Chan’s desire to compete and reach higher levels. She credits her success to her hard work and positive attitude.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2016 Paralympic Games… 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 Parapan Am Games…Five-time Parapan American Games medallist… 2018 Commonwealth Games…
PERSONAL
When Chan is not playing table tennis, she enjoys swimming, cooking and spending time with her family… She is married with one son… Chan acquired her disability at age four (polio), but only began playing table tennis at the age of 44… Born in Hong Kong…
NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
2019 Parapan American Games 3rd singles
2016 Paralympic Games 4th singles
2015 Parapan American Games 1st singles
2015 Bayreuth Open 1st team
2015 Bayreuth Open 3rd singles
2011 Parapan Am Games 2nd singles
2007 Parapan Am Games 2nd singles
2007 Parapan Am Games 3rd open