Megan Shackleton: Book lover ready for dream Paralympic story

Shackleton’s life was also changed aged 12 when she attended a Playground to Podium event run by West Yorkshire Sport, designed to allow young people to try new sports.

She gave table tennis a go, was flagged as someone with talent and – combined with watching London 2012 – her path to the Paralympics was set.

“The thing I loved about table tennis from the start is that there are so many aspects that make a good player,” she said. “And meeting the ParalympicsGB team before London was really inspiring.

“It’s really powerful, I know I used to adore [swimmer] Rebecca Adlington. Will Bayley really inspired me as well, it is important for kids to have great role models.”

After getting on the podium in Japan, Shackleton is aiming for similar success in France both in the singles and in the mixed doubles alongside GB’s other wildcard, Tom Matthews – who she describes as her best mate and a “dream come true” to play alongside.

Shackleton has also been balancing her sporting aspirations with her other love – books.

Following the same path as Olympic great Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Shackleton is studying for a degree at the University of Sheffield. While Ennis-Hill studied psychology however, Shackleton is pursuing a qualification in English Literature.

Shackleton was in the middle of her second year at Sheffield, but paused her studies to pursue her Paralympics place. She will resume her degree in February 2025, and praised the university for their support.

“I have missed it. I enjoy having that challenge academically,” she says of her degree.

“Maybe I even love literature equally as much as I love table tennis, I had great teachers in school who gave me a real passion. I’m also interested in journalism, I love wanting to tell other people’s stories.

“I can’t imagine not studying English and not playing sport. Books and sport, these are the things that make me be me.”

Shackleton’s favourite book is the young adult novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, as she says she can identify with the main character Charlie, a teenager suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I felt I could relate to Charlie – like I was someone with a bit more than anyone else in their background.”

The table tennis events in Paris will take place from August 29 to September 7 at the South Paris Arena 4.

The tournament will start with the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events that have replaced team events, with the 22 singles events – 11 wheelchair and 11 standing – to follow.