Table When eight siblings compete in one event Olympics is a family affair

PARIS : For the 32 women's and men's teams in the Paris Olympics table tennis the matches are about representing their country, but for the many siblings amongst them it is also about representing their family and the shared last name they hold dear.

At least eight sibling pairs are among the 96 athletes competing in the table tennis team events, a higher-than-usual percentage in the world of top-level competitive sports.

Some of these athletes come from families with deep-rooted table tennis traditions, while others were inspired by the desire to follow in the footsteps of an older sibling, finding joy in the sport and keeping each other company.

One of the best known sibling duos in the sport, French favourites Alexis and Felix Lebrun, have cheered for each other on and off the courts.

"Table tennis is a family sport. It's always a part of my family," said Felix, who ran to hug his brother after his bronze medal win for France, the first in the sport since 2000.

"I live my dream to be here with my brother," added Felix, who hails from a family where their father was a French champion and their uncle an Olympian.

When the younger Lebrun felt nervous before his medal match, he turned to his brother Alexis for support, especially since Alexis had been eliminated by the same opponent, Brazil's Hugo Calderano, earlier in the singles.

Sweden's Anton Kallberg echoed the influence of family on his decision to take up table tennis, as well as that of his younger sister Christina. Both are competing in their second Olympics together.

"I would say our parents played a big part. My dad, my mum, even my uncle and grandfather played a bit, so I pretty much had no choice but to get into table tennis," said Kallberg.

DREAM FULFILLED

Not every