Table tennis player balancing sport and school

By junior reporter Holly Dorey

Juggling textbooks and table tennis is a big part of Hollie Jenkins’ life. And all her hard work is paying off as she competes in her first ever Island Games, representing Alderney. We asked Hollie how she prepares for big competitions, as well as how she manages to balance table tennis training with school life. 

“In one word can you sum up your experience of the Island Games so far?”

‘Incredible’.

“How would your teammates describe you in one word?”

‘One word? Competitive’. 

“How long have you been training for this event?”

‘Roughly five to six months of training to prepare for the Island Games. I train every Tuesday evening with the Guernsey team to prepare and practice, gaining tactics and skills that help me improve.’

“How is it like to balance training and school?”

‘At times it can be stressful, but I keep things fairly easy and don’t let it affect my school life. I can keep them very separate so that they don’t eat into each other’.

“What is thing about table tennis that interests you the most?” 

'Seeing how everyone else plays; you are able to learn from the other players, which can help improve your overall performance.’

“Do you have any other major highlights and achievements with table tennis in the past?”

‘I have competed in international competitions in the UK; this is my first Island Games.’