A Bermondsey schoolboy has won two national table-tennis competitions despite starting off as an unfancied outsider.
Larry Trumpauskas, 14, won two gold medals at the National Cadets and Junior Nationals table tennis tournaments, seeing off formidable competition along the way – with notable scalps including last year’s winner in the quarter-final of the Junior Nationals and this year’s top seed in the final.
His victory was even sweeter for the fact that he was up against opponents up to four years older than him.
Larry, who practises two-three hours a day, six days a week, said: “I still can’t believe I won, I really wasn’t expecting it. But I had nothing to lose, so I just went for it!”
The triumphant City of London Academy Southwark student was greeted with rapturous applause by the entire school when he came back with his trophies this week.
Which Southwark person, place or event should get a blue plaque this year?
Mike Baxter, school principal, said: “Larry is a well rounded young man who puts in tremendous effort – in the classroom and in practice – to do his best. The fact he has beaten competitors four years his senior is testament to desire to put in the hours as well as, I expect, much raw talent.
“The entire CoLA Community are thrilled for him and wish him every success as he reaches ever higher in the table tennis stratosphere”.