Further Personal Information |
Marital status |
Married |
Family |
Wife, Grunn |
Residence |
Bergen, NOR |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
"I started playing table tennis when I was 15 years old . At secondary school I had table tennis as an electives and it was my father who was the coach. As it turned out that I had a talent for table tennis so I decided to carry on with it, we started to train outside of school." |
Why this sport? |
"I've always liked to be active and ball sports was my passion. I joined Bergen HIL. Not to play table tennis, but to find a sport that I could pursue. The choice fell on wheelchair basketball, but after a short time, I went over to table tennis and it turned out to be a choice I will never regret." |
Club / Team |
Stord BTK: Bergen, NOR |
Name of coach |
Jan Bergersen |
Coach from which country? |
Norway |
Coach from what year? |
1992 |
Training Regime |
In March 2012 an exercise bike was donated to him so he could increase his training regime. |
Handedness |
Right |
Senior International Debut |
Year |
1997 |
Competing for |
Norway |
Tournament |
European Championship |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
"Leisure activities such as boating, a little guitar playing, ATV." (tommyurhaug.com, 21 May 2012) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
"All seven European championship gold medals and four world championship golds." (tommyurhaug.com, 21 May 2012) |
Most influential person in career |
"My father, Raymond Espenes and Rolf Erik Paulsen have put in many hours. The latter also has for many years been my team mate on the national team. A wonderful person who has given me tremendous inspiration to go as I have done. I have learnt a lot from him."
(tommyurhaug.com, 21 May 2012) |
Awards and honours |
In January 2012 he was nominated for the year's best athlete with a disability [2011] in Norway. (nif.no, 06 Jan 2012) |
Other information |
DISABILITY
"I have a congenital disability that makes me need to use a wheelchair but I can walk using crutches." (tommyurhaug.com, 21 May 2012) |
