Doris Mader (born 3 February 1976) is an Austrian table tennis player who has competed for her country at the national level. She won the silver medal in the women's individual class 3 table tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.

Doris Mader
Doris Mader in 2013
Personal information
National teamAustria
Born (1976-02-03) 3 February 1976 (age 48)
Sport
CountryAustria
SportTable tennis
Disability classClass 3
Medal record
Women's table tennis
Representing  Austria
Paralympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Individual class 3

Career edit

Doris Mader started playing table tennis when she was seven, in part due to her father who was a table tennis instructor. In 2002, while studying veterinary medicine, she lost motion in her legs. This was caused by a 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) tumour on her spine. Following surgery, she underwent rehabilitation at the Weißer Hof facility in Klosterneuburg.[1]

Following her disability, she took up wheelchair table tennis, competing for Austria. She met Andreas Vevera while at Weißer Hof, and the two trained together in the sport. Both competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China, where Vevera won the gold medal in the men's individual class 1, while Mader finished fifth in women's individual class 3. Those roles were reversed at the 2012 Games in London, England, where Vevera was eliminated early. He then coached Mader as she won the silver medal in her class, following defeat by Sweden's Anna-Carin Ahlquist in the final.[1][2]

Mader competed again at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but without Vevera for the first time.[3] However, Mader failed to win any medals after being eliminated from the tournament in the round of 16.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lützow, Sigi (3 September 2012). "Eine Kämpferin am Tisch und im Leben". Der Standard (in German). Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Paralympics-Silber für Doris Mader". Kurier. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Austria announce Rio 2016 Paralympic team". Paralympic.org. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Achtelfinalaus für Doris Mader". Noen.at. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2017.