Sue Bailey (table tennis)

Susan Fiona Bailey, MBE (née Gilroy; born 19 October 1972)^[1] is a British para table tennis player and primary school teacher. She has competed in six Paralympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020) and at the Commonwealth Games (2002 and 2006).^[2][3]

Sue Bailey

MBE

Bailey at the 2005 Para Table Tennis European Championship
Personal information
Nationality	United Kingdom
Born	(1972-10-19) 19 October 1972 (age 52) Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England
Occupation	Primary school teacher
Employer	Shawlands primary school
Sport
Sport	Women's table tennis
Medal record Women's Table Tennis Representing  Great Britain Paralympic Games 2020 Tokyo Women's team C4-5 World Championships 2014 Beijing Women's singles C4 2006 Montreux Women's singles C4 European Championships 2005 Jesolo Women's singles C4 2003 Zagreb Women's singles C4 2009 Genoa Women's singles C4 2001 Frankfurt Women's teams C4 2005 Jesolo Women's teams C4 2013 Lignano Women's singles C4-5 2015 Vejle Women's teams C4-5 2017 Lasko Women's singles C4-5 2019 Helsingborg Women's teams C4-5 Representing  England Commonwealth Games 2002 Manchester Women's EAD Singles – Open Wheelchair 2006 Melbourne Women's EAD Singles

Bailey began playing table tennis at the age of 12 but her Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) made her stop at 15; she also has fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome. She started playing again at the age of 18 in a wheelchair.^[4]

Competing for England she won a gold medal in singles at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and successfully defended her title in Melbourne in 2006.

Honours

In 2009, Bailey was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University.^[2] In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for services to Disabled and Able-Bodied Table Tennis and to Sport for Young People.".^[5][6]