For many athletes, travelling overseas to compete is a dream. For Canadian Para National Team athlete Peter, it became much more than that. What began as a family adventure turned into three and a half months of international competition, full-time training, and lifelong memories.

Travelling with his wife and four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Peter built the trip around five international tournaments while immersing himself in some of Europe’s strongest Para Table Tennis environments. “It really just came down to something we wanted to do as a family,” Peter said. “We wanted to spend a few months in a different country, and we built it around tournaments and training.”

The idea had been developing for about a year. Once the timing aligned for his wife’s leave from work and before his daughter started kindergarten, the family decided to make it happen.

More Than Just Table Tennis

While improving as an athlete was an important goal, Peter says the experience was equally about spending time together as a family. “It was a mix of goals. One was to have more time together before my daughter starts kindergarten and to give her a different experience. The other was to immerse myself in Table Tennis and experience what it is like to have access to multiple tournaments and full-time training with many different wheelchair players.”

Competing Across Europe

During the trip, Peter competed in five international tournaments in:

  • Poland
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Montenegro
  • Slovenia

Between competitions, the family explored Europe, visiting Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, and many smaller communities along the way. Some of his strongest memories came away from the table. “We very much enjoyed Romania. In Serbia, staying in one place for several weeks was really interesting. People in the neighbourhood started recognizing you, and you almost felt like you were part of the community in a very short time.”

Training Like a Professional

The heart of the trip was nearly four weeks in Novi Sad, Serbia, where Peter trained twice a day with the Serbian Para National Team. Each day included two sessions of two-and-a-half to three hours at the table, five days each week, often alongside international athletes from several countries. “It was an amazing experience. We trained together, then would go for coffee or lunch afterwards. It felt very much like being part of a team.”

He later spent almost three additional weeks training in Stuttgart, Germany, experiencing another high-performance environment and learning how different programs approach athlete development.

Learning From the Best

One of the biggest differences Peter noticed compared to Canada was the depth of the European para system. “The biggest difference was simply the number of wheelchair players and the infrastructure they have for their programs.”

Competing so frequently also changed the way he approaches matches. “Playing that many tournaments in a short period taught me to slow down and be patient. Training mostly with able-bodied players sometimes causes me to rush points. That does not always translate well to wheelchair competition.”

Memorable Performances

Peter’s results reflected the value of the experience. In Italy, he defeated the Paris Paralympic bronze medalist. In Spain, he narrowly lost in five games in the quarterfinals to the world number five. Those performances gave him confidence that he belongs among the world’s best.

Beyond the Table

Like many wheelchair athletes, accessibility remained an ongoing consideration throughout the journey. “I would not call it a challenge because I expect it when travelling, but accessibility is always something you have to manage. Overall, everything worked out, and most people were very helpful.”

The experience also taught him something personal. “I have always known that I do not love asking for help, but sometimes you need to. I learned that it is okay to ask because most people are more than happy to help.”

A Community That Extends Around the World

For Peter, one of the greatest rewards was strengthening friendships built through international competition. He especially appreciated reconnecting with Boris, a Serbian athlete he had previously met, and spending time with the Serbian team, who welcomed both him and his family. “I celebrated my birthday while I was there, and they presented me with one of their club shirts. Those are memories that will stay with me.”

Looking Ahead

Peter now returns to Canada with renewed confidence and valuable international experience as he prepares for his next major goal, the 2027 Parapan American Games in Lima.

While he admires the access to training and competition available in Europe, he is also proud of what Canadian athletes continue to achieve. “I have mixed feelings. I am a little envious of the opportunities that exist there, but I am also proud of what I have accomplished in a more difficult environment.”

His advice for other Canadian athletes is simple. “Make it happen. Travelling, making connections with athletes and programs around the world will open opportunities and create incredible memories.”

Peter also credits those who helped make the experience possible. “First and foremost, my wife and daughter. Travelling is one thing. Travelling around sport is another. I also want to thank Dejan, who has always been incredibly supportive and has helped connect me with the international table tennis community.”

As Peter reflects on his journey, one lesson stands above the rest. “Table Tennis is a small community. Working hard and competing is important, but the relationships you build away from the table often create the greatest opportunities and make the journey much more rewarding.”