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Sam von Einem named 2026 Arthur Wilks Para Athlete of the Year
Published Thu 29 Oct 2026
Table Tennis Australia is proud to congratulate Sam von Einem on being named the Arthur Wilks Para Athlete of the Year, recognising an outstanding 2026 season that has seen him return to world number one in the Men’s Class 11 rankings.
The South Australian has enjoyed a remarkable year on the international stage, collecting four gold medals and one bronze across five ITTF World Para Circuit tournaments, underlining his status as one of the world’s leading para table tennis athletes.
Von Einem’s international campaign began with gold at the ITTF World Para Future Gold Coast in February, before he continued his winning form on the European circuit with a bronze medal at the ITTF World Para Challenger Lasko in Slovenia.
He followed this with another gold-medal performance at the ITTF World Para Elite Lasko, where he defeated reigning Paralympic champion Gi Tae Kim twice, including in the final, to secure the title in emphatic fashion.
Von Einem carried that momentum into Asia, claiming gold at the ITTF World Para EliteTaipei City before completing a remarkable run of four gold medals for the year with victory at the ITTF World Para Elite Beijing in June.
His performances across these international competitions propelled him back to the top of the world rankings for the first time since August 2024, a significant milestone in an already decorated career.
Von Einem’s success also reflects the continued development of Table Tennis Australia’s National Para Program, which supports athletes in their pursuit of international success and Paralympic excellence.
Sue Stevenson, General Manager of TTA’s Paralympic Program stated: “A huge congratulations to Sam on receiving this well-deserved award! It’s been fantastic to see the results he’s achieved over the past 12 months, which are a true reflection of his hard work, commitment and dedication within the SA Para Hub.
"What makes Sam stand out even more is the way he conducts himself both on and off the table. His sportsmanship, attitude and willingness to lead by example are exceptional, and he demonstrates to the rest of the Squad what it truly means to be a high-performance athlete. Sam should be incredibly proud of what he’s achieved, and I’m thrilled to see his efforts and dedication recognised. A very well-deserved achievement, Sam!”
Table Tennis Australia congratulates Sam on this well-deserved honour and looks forward to following his continued success as he prepares for the 2026 World Para Table Tennis Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, from 13–19 November.
