Samuel Shwe
Statement
Hon Pierre Yang (Parliamentary Secretary) (6:20 pm): It is my pleasure to rise today and acknowledge a young Western Australian who has achieved something remarkable. His story deserves recognition. His name is Samuel Shwe and he is sitting in the public gallery right now with his parents, Sean and Susan; his brother, Sidney; and his cousin Yonis. At a very young age, Samuel has done something no young Western Australian before him has ever done. He has broken into the world's top 20 rankings in table tennis for players under the age of 11 years. His current ranking of 17, achieved in 2025, is matched by a national ranking of 2 in Australia. These are not simple digits on a scoreboard; they are the result of extraordinary effort and discipline.
In 2024, Samuel's achievements included being crowned Australian national champion as part of a team, being named national vice champion in singles, being a bronze medallist in mixed doubles, multiple podium finishes on the Table Tennis Australia tour and in the National Hopes Challenge, and being honoured as emerging player of the year by Table Tennis Western Australia. This year, Samuel has continued achieving great results. He has made history again by winning a bronze medal at the World Table Tennis Youth Contender event in Puerto Princesa—the first West Aussie to do so. On that stage wearing the green and gold, Samuel represented not just himself and his family, but Western Australia and Australia.
What makes Samuel's story more inspiring is the journey behind the medals and achievements. Samuel lives with borderline hyperactivity, a condition that some might see as a barrier. Instead, Samuel has embraced it as a strength, channelling his endless energy into the sport he loves. With the support of his family, he trains tirelessly, sometimes for up to eight hours in a day during overseas training camps. Alongside this commitment, he maintains his academic studies as a homeschooled student, demonstrating a balance of excellence in both sport and education.
I commend Samuel Shwe not just for his unprecedented achievements in table tennis, but for the examples he sets in discipline and determination. I think it is fair to say that Samuel has made WA very proud, and I have no doubt Samuel will continue to do so in the future.
