Matteo Parenzan, UniTS student and Paralympic table tennis champion, adds another gem to his extraordinary sporting career by winning the Para Showcase in Las Vegas, an invite-only tournament that brought together the world's top eight athletes in class 6 Paralympic table tennis. 

It was a flawless victory, with five wins in as many matches, topped off with a perfect final against the American Ian Seidenfeld, who was defeated 3-0.

The triumph in the glittering Orleans Arena reaffirmed the talent and even more so the mental strength of the young champion from Trieste, who delivered a polished performance throughout the tournament, particularly in the final. ‘It was tough mentally,’ he said, ‘but I managed to stay focused and defuse my opponent's game. Even if it doesn't count in the rankings, this win gives me confidence, because I competed against all the strongest players and they were all highly motivated.’

At 22, Parenzan has already won everything and will be called upon to prove himself again: after becoming world champion in Granada in 2022, European champion in Sheffield in 2023 and Paralympic gold medallist in Paris in 2024, he is now defending his leading role on the international scene. But it is through his daily determination and desire to improve that he continues to build his career.

A student of Political and Administrative Sciences at the University of Trieste, Matteo is a prime example of the illustrious dual student-athlete career: dedicating the same care, concentration and passion to both sports competitions and his university studies. From Las Vegas, to Paris, to Piazzale Europa.