Sean O'Neill

Sean O'Neill (born July 31, 1967) is an American table tennis player and coach. He began playing table tennis in Virginia at the age of 8 with this father, Patrick, who was a nationally ranked junior player from Toledo, Ohio. O'Neill went on to win every US National Age Championship title, including the Under 11, 13, 15, 17 (5 times), 21, and Over 30 events. In addition to the age events, O'Neill won the US National Men's Singles (5 times), Men's Doubles (5 times), and Mixed Doubles (6 times) Championships. From 1983 to 1995 O'Neill participated in 5 World Championships, 4 Pan Am Games (winning 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal), 3 World Cups - Singles, Doubles, and Team - and 2 Olympic Games, in 1988 and 1992. O'Neill was the 1990 North American Men's Singles Champion. O'Neill was named USATT Male Athlete of the Year on five occasions and served on the United States Olympic Committee's Athletes' Advisory Council as a player representative for the sport of table tennis. O'Neill dominated the table tennis event at the US Olympic Sports Festival (formerly National Sports Festival). Participating in each event from 1981 to 1995, O'Neill won an unmatched 18 Gold, 5 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals in the sport of table tennis. O'Neill lit the torch along with Sharon Cain of Team Handball in the Opening Ceremonies in San Antonio in 1993. O'Neill played for the Angby Sport Club in Stockholm, Sweden during his early junior career in addition to training in China on numerous occasions. Upon retiring from full-time play, O'Neill began a coaching career that has led to work with the top US Para Table Tennis Players. The head coach for the 2004, 2008, and 2012 US Table Tennis Paralympic teams, he has also led the team at the 2002 World Championships (Team Leader), 2006 World Championships (Head Coach) and the Para Pan Am Games/Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007.