At just 14 years old, Oliver Woodworth of Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, is already making a name for himself as one of Canada’s rising table tennis stars.

In a recent feature by CBC, Oliver shared how his Table Tennis journey began during a family vacation when he and his brother, Harrison, spent countless hours playing on the hotel’s table tennis table with their father. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the family purchased a table for their home, and what started as a fun activity quickly grew into a passion.

Only a few years later, Oliver’s hard work has produced impressive results.

He has won provincial championships for five consecutive years, captured the Atlantic Under-19 title, earned silver and bronze medals at the Canadian Championships, and is the current Atlantic Men’s Champion, Atlantic Men’s Doubles Champion alongside his brother Harrison, and Atlantic Under-19 Champion.

Oliver also represented Canada as a member of the Under-13 National Team in 2023 and continues to establish himself among the country’s top young athletes.

His coach credits Oliver’s success not only to his dedication but also to his exceptional natural ability. “Oliver has very innate, natural-born skill. He learns things very fast. Sometimes he learns in tournaments, which is very unexpected. He’s one of those players who doesn’t need a lot of direction. He just understands concepts that might take other athletes several sessions to learn.”

Despite his many accomplishments, Oliver remains focused on the future.

When asked about his dream, his answer was simple and inspiring. “I think it’d be really cool to represent my country and go to the Olympic Games. That’s a really huge thing to accomplish, but I hope I’m able to do that.”

Oliver is currently preparing for the upcoming Canadian Championships, continuing to train at the Greater Moncton Table Tennis Club alongside a supportive community of coaches and athletes.

Table Tennis Canada congratulates Oliver on his outstanding achievements and wishes him continued success as he pursues his goals. We also extend our congratulations to his family, coaches, and the Greater Moncton Table Tennis Club for supporting his development and helping create an environment where young athletes can thrive.

Watch the full CBC feature here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7259233