This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Arcadia table tennis ace, 15, qualifies for 2012 Olympics
Just days ago Southern Californian teenager Erica Wu could only dream of playing table tennis at the 2012 Olympics. Now Wu is London-bound.
The 15-year-old from Arcadia qualified for a berth on Team USA at last weekend’s North American Table Tennis trials in Cary, N.C. Wu was the No. 3 American seed going into the trials. Fellow Californian teens Ariel Hsing and Lily Zhang, the top two American seeds, round out the rest of the team.
Hsing and Zhang were the best performers at the trials and qualified for singles competition at the Olympics.
Their top finishes gave the U.S. the right to create a three-person Olympics team. As the next highest-finishing female, Wu got the third spot.
Just one male tennis player will be representing the U.S. Tim Wang of Houston was the only American man to qualify at trials.