San Jose, California - The United States has a bright, new star representing Team USA in London: 16-year-old Ariel Hsing.
Ariel's parents, Michael Hsing and Xin Jaing, immigrants to the United States, play table tennis, she brought a then 7-year-old Ariel along with her when playing at table tennis clubs. It was there that Ariel discovered her love for the sport and her talent.
While other elite athletes focus solely on their sport and winning Olympic gold, Ariel is a junior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose with college on the horizon. She aspires to attend Stanford University.
To achieve success on the table and in the classroom, Ariel has a regimented schedule: "I wake up at around 7 a.m. I'll go practice serves for half an hour, and then I'll start getting ready for school. After my classes, my father pick me up with lunch and he'll drive me to a nearby club. After my lunch I'll usually take a nap in the car, once I get at the club, I'll train for two to three hours, after he'll drive me to another club and there I'll play another two hours, then I'll come home, eat dinner, do homework, and I'll finally get to sleep," Ariel said.
"Competitive table tennis it's not just about your arm, but you have to move your legs so much, it can be really tiring and when you're actually playing a match. You have to beat the opponent mentally while they're trying to change their strategies," she said.
Ariel's made several sacrifices to get her to her first Olympic Games, such as adjusting her diet, she has also sacrificed time hanging out with her friends.
But she's also gained a notable friend: Warren Buffett. She met Buffett when she was 9 on Buffett's 75th birthday. Buffett received a table tennis lesson as a gift, and the local coach thought it be fun to bring a young phenom along to assist in the lesson. Ariel made such an impression on Buffett that he remains one of her biggest fans. He offers her advice, even watching her matches online from his office he cheering for me" She is appreciative of this special bond with Buffett. She says the best advice he's given her wasn't something he said but rather something she learned by example.
Ariel takes representing her country very seriously, but she also knows she bears a responsibility as a role model.
"I would just tell people to always fight for their dreams and just try really, really hard to go for it"
Liam Adams
