COMMONWEALTH Games medallist Melissa Tapper says she is honoured but surprised by her latest accolade in the world of table tennis.
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Tapper collected the Victorian Institute of Sport’s elite athlete with a disability award at its annual celebrations on Tuesday night.
The Hamilton-raised left-hander, who has suffered Erb’s Palsy in her right arm since birth, said she was pleased with the recognition.
But she was stunned to hear her name called out, adamant para-cyclist Carol Cooke would clinch the category for the second time in two years.
“It was the first time I’ve ever been nominated. For me, I hold the VIS at the pinnacle of my world,” Tapper said yesterday.
“It’s a really nice thing to have been nominated, let alone win it. It definitely means quite a lot.
“The VIS is pretty much my second home because I’m there all the time.
“It’s not just the facilities, some of the staff inside, their support and guidance with things on-court and off-course, they’re pretty amazing.”
Tapper, 24, won the award for her results competing in Australia and on the world stage in 2014.
She started her campaign by qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in February and backed up with bronze at nationals at Perth in July.
Then came the highlight — a bronze medal in the women’s teams section in Glasgow later that month.
Tapper went on to win bronze at World Para Championships in Beijing in September, the first time Australia has won a medal at the event. “I know I’ve had a big year because the moment I stopped I really felt stuffed, basically,” she said.
“I’m still right in the middle of my career, I’m still doing what I enjoy doing. At this point it’s a bit hard to look back and be like ‘wow’.
“Don’t get me wrong, I understand it wasn’t an easy thing to quality for the Commonwealth Games.
“But I’m still in the middle of my career. I’m hoping it’s a stepping stone along the way to something bigger.”
Tapper pinpointed a meeting with her coaches at the start of 2013 as a factor in her success in recent years.
Her next assignment is the World Team Cup in Dubai in January. Tapper is one of three women on the six-member squad.
“Not long after I got back from China I took a five-week break, which was one of the best things I’ve done,” she said. “It was a bit longer than I expected but I needed it. I was able to refresh the head. Now I’m keen to get back into it.”
But first, Tapper will return to Hamilton to be the special guest at the South West Games opening ceremony tonight.
“It’s pretty funny. I’ve had this role before as the special guest of the Games. That would’ve been eight years ago,” she said.
“It’s funny to think people had belief in me back then.
“I would’ve only been 16 and might have won a couple of junior nationals, let alone a Commonwealth Games medal.
“This time around it’s more of an honour and a lot of excitement to be doing it.
“I’m very grateful I have such an amazing community that has always been there and believed in me.”