GB Team – Megan Shackleton

mshackletonbioDate and place of birth: 21/03/1999, Halifax

Home town: Todmorden
Lives: Todmorden
Family: mum Jayne, step-dad Anthony, sister Lois
TT Class: 4
Current world ranking: 20
International debut: 2013, Belgium Open

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Megan’s story:

Megan joined the GB Pathway Squad in 2013 and was selected for the Performance Squad in April 2014. A machinery related accident at the age of nine resulted in a fractured spine but the determination she showed in adapting to life in a wheelchair is also driving her to achieve success in her chosen sport.

“I had swum competitively from the age of five and played tennis,” she says, “so I’ve always enjoyed sport. I first started playing table tennis at the age of 12 after I attended a Playground to Podium event in Leeds, where I met my coach Shaun Alvey and he persuaded me to come along to his club Albert Premier TTC regularly and I soon fell in love with the sport.”

After her accident Megan also tried wheelchair basketball and returned to the swimming pool, winning a number of medals at national level, but she is now focusing on table tennis. “I’ve always liked racket sports,” she explains, “and I like table tennis because it is more about your ability.”

Megan made an impressive international debut in October 2013 in the Belgium Open, reaching the quarter-finals of the class 4 singles event. “I’ve wanted to represent GB since I was very young so it was a dream come true,” she said.

In March 2014 she won her first international medal, partnering Sue Gilroy and Sweden’s Anna-Carin Ahlquist to a silver medal in the women’s class 4-5 team event at the Lignano Master Open in Italy and she went on to win her first individual medal in Romania with a bronze in the women’s class 4-5 singles. She finished the season on a high by taking gold in the women’s class 4-5 singles and team events at the Cote d’Azur International to confirm her potential.

“I’m really happy and the hard work in training is paying off,” said Megan. “Knowing that I’ve won two gold medals is going to give me a lot of confidence - I played consistently through the tournament in France and hopefully I can continue to do that next season. There’s still a lot of room for improvement.”

In 2015 Megan has continued to make progress and took a bronze medal in the women’s class 4-5 team event at the European Championships in Denmark - her first major championship.

While Rio in 2016 may come too soon for her, Megan is hoping to continue her improvement. GB Pathway Squad coach Shaun Marples is in no doubt that Megan has the talent to succeed at the highest level. “Megan has made fantastic progress over the short period of time she has been playing,” says Shaun. “She has an attacking style, hits the ball strong over the table and with her attitude and dedication to the sport she has the potential to make it to the top in her class.”

A sixth form  pupil at Todmorden High School, Megan is also receiving full support from her school to follow her dream of a table tennis career.  “My school is very supportive,” she says, “and will give me work when I am away or if I need to catch up they’ll give me an hour after school to help me if I need it. Sport means a lot to me because it helps you to become the best that you can be.”

Take 5 with Megan:

Most admired sportsman/woman - Rebecca Adlington

Place in the world you would most like to visit - California because I’ve always wanted to go to the USA and the people seem really cool

Three famous people (alive or dead) you would like to have a drink with - Alan Carr, Katy Perry, Channing Tatum

What’s on your ipod - Katy Perry, Lana Del Ray, general chart stuff

If you had to appear in a reality TV programme which one would it be - I’m a Celebrity or Big Brother

and finally - Megan’s favourite sport apart from table tennis is basketball.

2015 Results:
European Championships, Vejle, Denmark - bronze, women’s teams (class 4-5); group stages, women’s singles (class 4-5)
Czech Open - silver, women’s singles (class 4-5); silver, women’s teams (class 4-5)
Bayreuth Open, Germany - bronze, women’s teams (class 4); group stages, women’s singles (class 4)
Slovenia Open - silver, women’s teams (class 4); group stages, women’s singles (class 4)
Lignano Master Open, Italy - group stages, women’s singles (class 4-5); 4th women’s teams (class 4-5)
Hungarian Open - gold, women’s singles (class 4-5); silver, women’s teams (class 1-5)

2014 Results:
Cote d’Azur International, France - gold, women’s singles (class 4-5); gold, women’s teams (class 4-5)
Romania International Open - bronze, women’s singles (class 2-5)
Lignano Master Open, Italy - silver, women’s teams (class 4-5); group stages, women’s singles (class 4-5)
National Championships - Winner, Junior Class 1-5 singles; Junior Player of the Tournament

Career Highlights:
2015: European Championships, Vejle, Denmark - bronze, women’s teams (class 4-5)
Czech Open - silver, women’s singles (class 4-5); silver, women’s teams (class 4-5)
Bayreuth Open, Germany - bronze, women’s teams (class 4)
Slovenia Open - silver, women’s teams (class 4)
Hungarian Open - gold, women’s singles (class 4-5); silver, women’s teams (class 1-5)
2014: Cote d’Azur International, France - gold, women’s singles (class 4-5); gold, women’s teams (class 4-5)
Romania International Open - bronze, women’s singles (class 2-5)
Lignano Master Open, Italy - silver, women’s teams (class 4-5)
National Championships - Winner, Junior Class 1-5 singles; Junior Player of the Tournament

Further results are available at: http://www.ipttc.org/players/women/megan_shackleton/index.htm