Watson and Altshuler Shine at the 2024 ITTF FA20 Para Brazilian Open

Four US Para athletes were selected by the International Table Tennis Federation to participate in The Americas Training Camp, a development initiative where players and coaches from across the continent train together for four days before the 2024 ITTF Para Brazilian Open. This camp allowed participants to share knowledge and different training techniques. The US team, consisting of Samuel Altshuler, Tristan Myrick (Class 6), Cole Rothenberger (Class 8), Logan Watson (Class 9), and coach Vlad Farcas, benefited from training alongside athletes with similar disabilities, focusing on tactics relevant to their respective classes. The camp was led by Francisco Carrasco, head coach of Chile, which boasts one of the strongest Para programs on the continent, having won 19 medals at the Para PanAm Games. Athletes and coaches from Chile, Venezuela, Guatemala, Canada, and Brazil also participated in the camp.

From October 6 to October 8, all four US players competed in the ITTF Para Brazilian Open, one of the last international Para events of the year.

In Men’s Class 6, Tristan Myrick and Sam Altshuler represented the US. Although Myrick did not advance from the group stage, he secured one win and barely lost a crucial match13-11 in the fifth game. Despite this, he showcased significant improvement and improved his tournament readiness for future events. Altshuler had a challenging start, losing a tightly contested five-game match against Fernando Oliveira. However, he quickly rebounded, securing victories in straight sets against Dos Santos and Eloi Luiz. With a record of two wins and one loss, he advanced to the semi-finals, where he faced the top seed, Amorim De Oliveira, and won in impressive straight sets. In the final, Altshuler met Oliveira again, starting strong with a 1-0 lead and an 8-3 advantage, but ultimately lost in another tightly contested fifth set. At just 16 years old, Altshuler remains one of the brightest prospects in the US Para program.

In Men’s Class 8, 17-year-old Cole Rothenberger was stopped in the group stage after narrowly losing to Vidal of Chile, Barrientos of Argentina, and Dutra of Brazil. Despite the defeats, Rothenberger demonstrated considerable improvement and potential for future success on the continental stage.

Logan Watson in para table tennis Men's Singles Class 9 at the 2024 ITTF Fa20 Brazilian Para Open. October 6-8, 2024.

In Men’s Class 9, Logan Watson dominated the group stage, achieving victories against Caldeira and Ribeiro from Brazil, as well as Pleites from Guatemala. Finishing first in his group, he advanced to the semi-finals, where he faced Riggio Ifanger, winning in straight games to secure his spot in the final against Dos Santos Carvalho. Familiar from their encounter at the 2023 ParaPan American Games, where Watson earned a bronze medal, the match was closely contested. Watson started strong but ultimately lost a tightly fought four-game match, with Dos Santos emerging as the more inspired player in key moments. Watson's silver medal was a significant achievement, reaffirming his status as one of the top players in the continent. Additionally, Watson secured a bronze medal in MD18 Doubles, partnering with Chilean player Penna Rocco, with their team pulling off several upset victories to earn their podium spot.

Watson, Myrick, and Altshuler are now back at the US Performance Center, where they have been training since the start of the year. The intensive programming at the US Performance Center have contributed to their remarkable improvement in international competitions. They extend their gratitude to the strength and conditioning coaches and recovery specialists who support their daily training routines.