Meet Bly Twomey, the 14-year-old table tennis star who became Great Britain’s youngest paralympic medallist

For some young athletes, discovering a sport can open a path to opportunities far beyond their initial training session. Bly Twomey's journey started at a community holiday activity session in Brighton & Hove and rapidly developed into an international table tennis career.

At 14, Twomey was among the youngest athletes representing ParalympicsGB at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. She returned from the Games with two bronze medals, making her Great Britain's youngest Paralympic table tennis medallist.


Her first medal came in the women's doubles, where she partnered with Fliss Pickard in the WD14 classification event. She then added another bronze in the Women's Class 7 Singles, an event in which she ranks fourth in the world.

An unexpected start in table tennis

Twomey's involvement in table tennis started in 2021. She attended a multi-sport session run by Brighton Table Tennis Club for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as children getting free school meals.

The session was part of Brighton & Hove's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. At the time, Twomey obtained a discretionary place connected with her disability.

Funded by the Department for Education, HAF offers free holiday activity clubs for eligible school-aged children and young people from Reception to Year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals.

The programme is made to help some of the most vulnerable children and young people stay physically active in school holidays. Its activities are sports, performing arts, coding and playschemes, while participating children also obtain a free nutritious meal.

In 2023, Brighton & Hove's HAF programme recorded 13,587 sessions attended by 1,765 individual participants.

Also Read: Developer Richard Rubin bought a long-shuttered Alabama Ramada Inn in 2021; after a sub-$5 million redevelopment, its 120 rooms were slated for workforce housing

Also Read: Developer Richard Rubin bought a long-shuttered Alabama Ramada Inn in 2021; after a sub-$5 million redevelopment, its 120 rooms were slated for workforce housing

Rapid progress on the international stage

What began as a local activity soon became a serious sporting pursuit for Twomey.

She made her international debut in March 2023. Just two months later, she claimed her initial medal, winning bronze at the Polish Para Open.

Another bronze followed at the 2023 European Championships in Sheffield. Later that year, in November, Twomey received her first gold medal at the French Para Open.

The role of her local club

Twomey attends Cardinal Newman Catholic School, which has offered support for her table tennis career.

Brighton Table Tennis Club has also remained a significant part of her development. Tim Holtam, the club's Director, was among 150 club members who travelled to Paris to support Twomey and Bayley.

Twomey's twin sister, Ellis, has also explained the changes she has watched in Bly since she began playing.

Support from Brighton & Hove

Councillor Emma Daniel, Lead Member for Children, Families and Learning, also emphasized Twomey's advancement and the role of the HAF programme in helping her discover table tennis.

“I’d like to wish Bly the very best of luck at the Paralympics – to be competing internationally just 3 years after first picking up a table tennis bat is an incredible achievement.

Twomey's story traces a remarkable progression from a local holiday activity session to the Paralympic Games. In just three years of playing table tennis, she moved into international competition, won several medals and finally became Great Britain's youngest Paralympic table tennis medallist with two bronze medals in Paris.

Source: Brighton & Hove City Council and Active Sussex