Betty Gray

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Betty Gray (born August 20, 1920 in Resolven ( Neath ), † August 12, 2018 in Swansea ) was a Welsh table tennis player . She won bronze in the team competition at the 1951 World Cup . She represented Wales in international appearances more than 250 times.

Career

Since 1939 Betty Gray played in Swansea, first in the Young Conservatives' Club in the Walter Road district, from 1945 onwards at the Penlan Club.

In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s she was one of the best table tennis players in Wales. She took part in several European and World Championships , such as the 1951 and 1953 World Cups, as well as the 1958 European Championships and even 1978 . She achieved her greatest success at the 1951 World Cup when Gray reached the semi-finals with the mixed team Scotland / Wales and thus won bronze.

Later, Betty Gray was successful in international senior tournaments , where she was European and world champion several times :

  • EM 1999: Victory in the individual in the age group over 75
  • WM 2000: Victory in the individual in the age group over 80
  • EM 2005: Victory in the individual in the age group over 85
  • WM 2006: Victory in doubles with the Swede Märtha Göransson in the age group over 85
  • EM 2007: Victory in doubles with the Swede Märtha Göransson in the age group over 85

At the 2012 Olympic Games , she was the oldest woman to carry the Olympic torch .

In the meantime, Betty Gray took on official duties. She was President of the Welsh Table Tennis Association of Wales, the Swansea Table Tennis League and the Cymru Veterans' Association.

She was honored with the Sports Award 2010 for her services.

Betty Gray died in 2018 and was buried in Morriston Cemetery in Swansea .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Betty Gray (20 Aug 1920 - 12 Aug 2018 ) (accessed February 20, 2019)
  2. ↑ a b c Table tennis 'warrior' Betty Gray dies aged 96 (accessed February 20, 2019)
  3. ↑ a b Swansea table tennis champion hits 90 (accessed February 20, 2019)
  4. ↑ SCI News No. 90, March 2011, page 19 (SCI = Swaythling Club International)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gray, Betty
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British table tennis player
DATE OF BIRTH 20th August 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH Resolve ( Neath )
DATE OF DEATH August 12, 2018
Place of death Swansea