Ian Seidenfeld (born July 17, 2001) is an American para table tennis player. He represented the United States at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Ian Seidenfeld
Personal information
Born (2001-07-17) July 17, 2001 (age 23)
Lakeville, Minnesota, U.S.
Sport
Country United States
SportPara table tennis
DisabilityDwarfism
Disability classC6
Coached byMitchell Seidenfeld
Medal record
Para table tennis
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Men's singles C6
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Men's singles C6
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima Men's singles C6
Gold medal – first place 2023 Santiago Men's singles C6

Career

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Seidenfeld represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in the men's singles C6 event and won a gold medal.[1] He upset reigning Paralympic gold medalist Peter Rosenmeier to win gold.[2] He became the first U.S. para tennis player to win gold since Tahl Leibovitz in 1996.[3]

Seidenfeld represented the United States at the 2023 Parapan American Games and won a gold medal in the men's singles C6 event.[4]

He represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics and won a bronze meal in the men's singles C6 event.[5][6]

Personal life

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Seidenfeld was born with pseudoachondroplasia.[7] His father and coach, Mitchell Seidenfeld, is a former Para table tennis player and gold medalist.[8][9] He is Jewish.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Meyers, Naila-Jean (August 28, 2021). "Lakeville's Ian Seidenfeld wins Paralympic gold in table tennis, adding to the family legacy". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Reinert, Bob (August 28, 2021). "Ian Seidenfeld Upsets Reigning Paralympic Table Tennis Champ To Take Gold Medal". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Connell, Jordan (May 4, 2024). "Para table tennis player Ian Seidenfeld on having his dad as a coach". wboy.com. WBOY-TV. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Team USA Earns 3 Golds, 7 Medals at 2023 Para Pan Am Games". usatt.org. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Rourke, Brendan (September 5, 2024). "Two Paralympics, Two Medals for U.S. Para Table Tennis Athlete Ian Seidenfeld. This time, It's Bronze". teamusa.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Gurvis, Jacob (September 5, 2024). "Jewish US table tennis star Ian Seidenfeld wins bronze at Paris Paralympics". jta.org. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Beno, Leah (April 14, 2024). "MN Paralympic table tennis gold medalist shares secret weapon". fox9.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "Mitchell Seidenfeld". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Ian Seidenfeld". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Karpen, Elizabeth (July 15, 2024). "Meet the top Jewish athletes to watch at the Paris 2024 Olympics". jewishunpacked.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
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