Rob Davies
Athlete Information
-
Region
Brecon
-
Date of Birth
13/08/1984
-
Classification
Class 1 singles, class 4 doubles
Athlete main content
Bio
Rob Davies is a four-time European champion and the 2016 Paralympic champion in the Class 1 singles category in Rio. Davies won his second Paralympic medal, this time claiming the silver in the MS1 singles at Paris 2024 to follow his gold that he won eight years previously.
Born and bred in Wales, Rob played semi-professional rugby until a spinal cord injury while playing left him a wheelchair user at the age of 21. In a bizarre twist of fate, at the same time that Rob was injured his twin brother Rich was involved in a serious car accident on the way to the match but went on to make a full recovery.
He was introduced to table tennis during his rehab by another ParalympicsGB table tennis player, Sara Head, when she was a volunteer at the Rockwood hospital in Cardiff.
After making his international debut in 2007, Rob would make his first Paralympic Games in London before topping the podium four years later at Rio 2016, for which he received an MBE in 2017 - the same year he married his wife Megan. He won his fourth consecutive European title in 2019 but he was unable to defend his Paralympic crown due to a shoulder injury. He returned at the 2022 World Championships with a singles bronze and came close to taking his fifth consecutive European title last year, losing a five-set final to the Hungarian Endre Major.
Away from the table, Rob enjoys gardening and is still a massive rugby fan as he plays the wheelchair version occasionally.
Major Results
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
- Men’s Singles - MS1: Silver
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
- Men’s Singles - MS1: Gold
2019: European Championships, Sweden – gold, men’s singles (class 1)
Lignano Master Open, Italy – gold, men’s singles (class 1
2018: European Championships, Sweden – gold, men’s singles (class 1)
Lignano Master Open, Italy – gold, men’s singles (class 1)
2017: European Championships, Lasko, Slovenia – gold, men’s singles (class 1)
Czech Open – gold, men’s singles (class 1)
2016: Slovenia Open - gold, men’s singles (class 1)
2015: European Championships, Vejle, Denmark - gold, men’s singles (class 1); gold, men’s teams (class 1)
2014: World Championships, Beijing, China - silver, men’s singles (class 1)
Slovenia Open - gold, men’s singles (class 1); gold, men’s teams (class 1)
2013: Belgium Open - gold, men’s singles (class 1)
European Championships, Lignano, Italy - gold, men’s singles (class 1); gold, men’s teams (class 1)
2012: Slovakian Open - gold, men’s singles (class 1); gold, men’s teams (class 1)
2011: European Championships, Split, Croatia - silver, men’s singles (class 1); silver, men’s teams (class 1)
British Open - gold, men’s singles (class 1)
Join the ParalympicsGB movement
Related Articles
17 July 2024
11-strong ParalympicsGB table tennis team confirmed for Paris 2024
15 August 2021