Dual Olympian and Paralympian Melissa Tapper will head to her third Games alongside 36-year-old Tokyo Olympian Michelle Bromley and Min Hyung Jee, making her Olympic debut at 37.

On the men’s side, Nicholas Lum, Finn Luu and Hwan Bae will all make their Olympic debut in Paris at age 19.

Victorian Tapper made history in 2016 as the first Australian to compete in both the Paralympics and Olympics in any sport; and in 2024 will head to her third Olympics. Bromley will head to her second Games less than two years after having her first child Lachie.

Lum and Jee locked in their spots on the team winning the Oceania Mixed Doubles qualification tournament earlier this year, while Tapper, Bromley, Bae and Luu took out the top two spots at the selection trials in the women’s and men’s tournaments respectively.

Chef de Mission Anna Meares welcomed the six athletes to the Team.

“Congratulations to all six athletes on their selection to represent Australia in Paris,” Ms Meares said. “This team has a great mix of youth and experience.

“Every Olympian has their own story and this team exemplifies the many different paths for athletes to achieve their Olympic dream.

“From Min making her Olympic debut aged 37, to Milly continuing her incredible record as a dual Olympian and Paralympic athlete. Michelle returns for her second Games but her first as a mother, while a trio of 19-year-olds all make their debut together. 

“Each of these athletes has put in an incredible amount of passion and commitment to secure their spot in Paris and today is a moment to celebrate for the players, their families, coaches, Table Tennis Australia and the entire table tennis community.

“We have less than one month until the Olympic cauldron is lit in Paris and it is thrilling to see the Australian Team taking shape.”

Tapper said it was a privilege to play a sport she loves on the biggest stage, representing not just her country but her family and friends.

“I can't actually believe it. The goal as a kid was to qualify for an Olympics, I now am getting to head off to my third!” Tapper said. 

“I always just want to play my best table tennis every time I step out on the court, but if I can inspire just one young girl to get active in sport or a child with a disability to believe they can be whatever they want, then that's the real achievement.

Tapper went undefeated through the Table Tennis Australia qualification trials to lock in her spot for Paris.

“That was absolutely a dream moment. It's the first time I have won a qualification tournament and to do it undefeated with my husband Simon, who is also my coach, was the most special thing.  To win the last point and know that I earnt my spot with my parents watching on was a moment that will be with me forever.

Thirty-seven-year-old Min Hyung Jee, currently training with teammates Lum and Bae in Korea, said the wait for her Olympic debut was worth it.

“It’s emotional and surreal,” she said. “It took me so long to qualify for the Olympic Games, I can’t describe this feeling, just very grateful to have this opportunity.

“It took me 28 years to qualify for Olympic Games, and my parents saw the entire process for a long time. Whenever I faced tough moments, they taught me how to overcome those wisely, it gave me a lot of life lessons and made me stronger. I’m so grateful to have them on this journey as my mentors.

“At the moment, improving the quality of my game is the key goal, to play against highest level players at the Olympic Games. The Paris Games will be a completely different level of intensity, so a strong mentality will be needed.”

Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Lum, an IOC Solidarity scholarship holder, was thrilled to head to Paris alongside two players he has climbed through the junior ranks with.

“Making my first Olympic team is undoubtedly one of the greatest feelings I’ll ever experience as an athlete,” Lum said. “It’s been my childhood dream to represent Australia at the Olympics since the day I picked up a racket. 

“Having narrowly missed out on qualifying for Tokyo, being able to bounce back from that and qualify for Paris feels so much more satisfying.”

“If you had told me when I was still playing in the under 13 age group that all three of us would be competing together at the 2024 Paris Olympics, I would have just laughed. It’s so wholesome to see how far we’ve come and how much we’ve grown and improved since our first matches against each other. 

“From being fierce rivals at the under 13 National Championships, to now sharing the stage and competing at the world’s biggest sporting event. I’m just so happy and excited to share this moment with them.

“I love that table tennis provides an opportunity for everyone to play, whether you are young, old, born with disabilities, or just beginning to learn how to play. Table tennis, as hard as it may seem when you watch the pros play, isn’t all that difficult when it comes to having fun. The game is relatively easy for beginners, yet it offers a whole new game to challenge even the world’s most skilled players.”

The Table Tennis competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from Saturday 27 July to Saturday 10 August at South Paris Arena 4.