Ian Seidenfeld’s journey to Paralympic gold began across the ping pong table from his father, Mitch Seidenfeld, at just 5 years old. Born with pseudoachondroplasia dwarfism, Ian, like his father and grandfather, stood at about 4-feet tall, but their stature didn’t limit their ambitions or achievements. For Mitch, table tennis was more than a game; it was a lifeline during his teenage years when he was discovering his own limitations. Learning from his father, a teaching pro, Mitch found self-esteem and purpose through the sport. He went on to compete in the Paralympics, winning four medals, two of them gold, and earning a spot in the table tennis Hall of Fame.
Ian, following in his father’s footsteps, found solace and challenge in table tennis. The complexity of the game kept him engaged, unlike other sports where the actions were more repetitive. “Here, I get to think about spin, how to react, and how to beat the opponent. There’s always someone new to try and overcome,” Ian said. However, Ian faced a unique challenge due to his physical disability. Opponents would serve short on the table, exploiting his shorter stature and limbs. To counter this, Mitch created a homemade extension for Ian’s paddle, allowing him to reach the ball and continue playing. After some initial resistance, the extension was approved for use in the Paris Paralympics.
As Ian aims for another gold medal, he and Mitch continue their father-son coaching journey, each pushing the other to excel. “I think the ultimate goal is just to say I’m better than him as a player,” Ian said. “But where I’m at now, I definitely know I’m not better than he was at his best.” “We’ll never play at our peaks together, so we’ll never know for sure, but he has better skills than I had and as he gets a little more experience, I’m sure he’ll be a much stronger player than I was,” Mitch added.