Olympic Table Tennis Star Settles into Retirement, Focusing on Family and Giving Back to the Sport She Loves

Seven months into her retirement from competitive table tennis, Olympic Table Tennis athlete Michelle Bromley, has embraced her new (“slightly less hectic”) life, balancing full-time work and motherhood with her two-year-old son.

Table Tennis was a Bromley (nee Beaumont) family affair; her parents fell in love at a table tennis club, her grandparents competed at a national level well into their 80s, and her older brothers also took up the racket, so it was only a matter of time for Michelle to become involved. Picking up the racket at age seven, Michelle remembers tirelessly hitting the ball against the kitchen wall at home until she was tall enough to move onto the table. Bromley secured her first national title at age 13 and represented Australia internationally that same year.  

Having represented Australia at the highest level, including multiple Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), in her retirement from the competitive side of the sport, Bromley is keen to remain active and give back to the sport that she says, has given her so much. 

“To table tennis, the sport that has given me so much – the opportunity to travel, the biggest honour of representing the green and gold, some of my best friends in life, a community, and the sport that has also bonded my family across generations. You’ve given me purpose, and taught me an abundance of life lessons – discipline, goal-setting, dealing with failure and being relentlessly persistent.

“It’s time to take a step back and appreciate all that I’ve been able to achieve in my playing career, as well as the journey I’ve had, the places I’ve been, and the people I’ve met.

“2x Olympic Games, 8x World Championships, 5x World Cups, 1x Commonwealth Games, 1x Commonwealth Championships, 20+ countries, and 20 years inside the AUS Top Ten rankings.

"I’ve pushed hard for 25+ years to get the best out of myself, and am one of the lucky ones to have achieved what they set out to.

“To everyone involved in getting this small-town kid to the world’s biggest sporting stage, THANK YOU!” said Bromley. 

Michelle’s retirement has been marked by a new sense of fulfillment as she has transitioned into family life, while finding a new rhythm in her professional life. Bromley has been relishing the extra time with her husband and young son, with a recent announcement of another little boy due mid-October this year. Of her two-year-old, Bromley light-heartedly says, “Even though I am not finding myself in table tennis halls every evening now, there’s no escaping the sound of ping pong balls in our household, as my little boy, Lachie is obsessed with his racket and hitting balls.”

Despite stepping away from competition, her heart remains deeply connected to the table tennis community. As of March, Bromley has been elected to the board of Table Tennis NSW (TTNSW) and currently acts as an Ambassador for the Women & Girls Program.

“It’s not a goodbye to the sport – you’ll still see me around the halls, but an acknowledgement that the time has come to stop the constant striving and selfish nature of elite sport by stepping away from international competition. Instead, enjoying the freedom of not having to be somewhere every night of the week, indulging in family life, spending time with friends, and even playing a few different sports that never got a chance,” Bromley said.

Hailing from a small country town herself, Gulgong in the NSW Central West, Bromley has an interest in helping young, emerging talent access the resources and support they need to pursue a career in table tennis, irrespective of their geographic location. She aspires to be a source of inspiration for young girls who dare to dream big in the sport.

Furthermore, drawing upon her extensive knowledge and personal experience in the sport, Bromley is committed to driving positive change and improvements in the sports’ operational aspects where relevant.  

"We are incredibly proud of Michelle’s outstanding career, and we fully support her new mission to give back to the sport that has brought her so much success," said Nicole Adamson, CEO of Table Tennis Australia. "Michelle’s passion for the game is unwavering, and her efforts to support and inspire young players, especially in rural communities, will undoubtedly have a lasting impact. We’re excited to see how her experience and generosity can help shape the next wave of table tennis talent."

As Michelle settles into this new chapter of her life, Table Tennis Australia congratulates her on her illustrious career, and acknowledges her efforts and commitment to the sport across many decades. We look forward to following her table tennis journey from the other side of the barrier, and the positive contributions she will continue to make in this great sport.  

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