Grant-A-Week WINNER
Erica Pilon - Table Tennis

My name is Erica Pilon; I am 17 years old and have been playing table tennis for nine years. I just recently moved to Ottawa from Saskatchewan in order to train at the National Training Center. I practice five to eight times a week and three weekends out of a month, including tournaments. I have been on the National Women's Team for the past four years, and have represented Canada as a junior at international events for five years, and just recently at a senior level.

In my career I have won many provincial, national, and a few international titles. I was ranked as the number one junior in Saskatchewan for four years, and have been the number one senior female in Saskatchewan for the past four years as well.

I have won about ten national junior titles in singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team. In 1997 me and my partner from Quebec, Marie-Christine Roussy, won the gold for under 14 girls team in Belgium. I also won the 1997 under 14 girls singles US Open title. I have attended the Canada Winter Games twice, and have medalled at both.

In 1995 I came second in under 14 girls singles and in 1999 I came first in under 17 girls singles. My most recent travels have brought me to India, China, and North Korea as a member of the Women's team. Being involved in table tennis has brought me to every province in Canada, and eight different countries.

I hope one day to make it to the Olympics. My goal is to attend the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. I also hope to attain a world ranking in the top 50 by the time I finish. This is very hard to achieve, but I think with a lot of hard work and determination, I will succeed.

Table Tennis is a very exciting sport. I have been playing for over half of my life, and still enjoy it. Last year I coached an evening program at a school trying to get more kids involved. There is a table tennis association in every province, and I encourage anyone who is interested to contact them and try it out! Go to www.ctta.ca to read the Canadian Table Tennis Association's web page and link onto other table tennis web pages in Canada to obtain more information.

I would like to thank CAAWS and Nike for giving me this grant. It will give me an opportunity to attend a few more tournaments in attempt to improve my level as well as my Canadian ranking.

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity contact us