Jenny Parinos and Her Paralympic Journey
Paralympic table tennis medalist shares behind-the-scenes stories from Rio 2016, pandemic qualifying, and Paris 2024.
In an interview with Stemma Sports, Jenny Parinos looked back on the journey across her three Paralympic appearances. The table tennis player detailed the sacrifices she made at 16 to target Rio 2016, overcoming challenges with home training during the pandemic, and her experience at Paris 2024.
A two-time Paralympic table tennis medalist, Jenny Parinos has built a distinguished career in elite sports with consecutive appearances at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. Each edition brought its own distinct set of challenges in qualification, training, and resilience both on and off the table.
Early Days in Piracicaba and the Rio 2016 Atmosphere
Born in Santos, where she first began training at Saldanha, Jenny faced a turning point in 2013 when the national federation invited her to join the Brazilian national team and live at the training center in Piracicaba. The move demanded early maturity: at just 16 years old, and only four months after the passing of her father, she began living on her own to dedicate herself entirely to qualifying for the home Games.
Her Paralympic debut came at age 20 in front of a home crowd in Rio. The electric atmosphere in the packed table tennis pavilion left a lasting mark on the young athlete, who helped Brazil secure a team bronze medal at Rio 2016. That crowd energy and the podium finish solidified Jenny's determination to compete at the highest level for as many Paralympic cycles as possible.
Living Room Training and a Dramatic Tokyo Qualification
The following cycle presented additional obstacles with the COVID-19 pandemic, arriving just as Jenny was still fighting to secure her spot for Tokyo 2020. With training centers closed, the table tennis player set up a table in her mother's living room and maintained her technical drills with the help of Kilian, who fed balls for repetitive practice.
The hard work paid off at the world qualifying tournament in Slovenia, where only the champion earned the remaining qualification berth. Entering without the favorite tag, Jenny defeated the reigning South Korean world champion in straight sets (3–0) to book her Paralympic ticket. In the Japanese capital, she capped off her momentum by winning another bronze medal.
The Paris 2024 Experience
In 2024, Jenny made her third Paralympic appearance at the Paris Games. While she did not reach the podium on French soil, she celebrated maintaining her status among the sport's elite, as well as a major personal milestone during that period—returning engaged and celebrating her wedding shortly after the conclusion of the Games.