Getting into the sport seemed inevitable given she came from such a Table Tennis keen family.

“Both sides of my grandparents could hold their own on the table, and competed at a National level even into their 80s. My Mum, who used to play more at a social level in New Zealand, moved to Australia when she was 21, and met my Dad at a table tennis club in Sydney,” Michelle said.

“It was safe to say we were the only table tennis family in Gulgong when my parents moved there from Sydney when I was just two-years-old. A few years later they started up the local Table Tennis Club on a Friday night, which soon became the popular thing to do.

“I remember driving my mum crazy hitting the ball up against the kitchen wall at home for hours when I was six-years-old, and when I got a little taller, I took to the table and played my first State Primary School competition at seven-years-old where I won my first trophy.

“Growing up with two older brothers who also played the sport, my Dad’s focus was very much on the boys, so Mum took the reins in nurturing my table tennis in the early years.

“At the age of 10, when Dad finally saw the potential in me [laughs] he took over the coaching reins, and over the next 14 years, we developed a strong father/daughter, coach/player relationship, with Dad attending all of my competitions, being my warm-up partner and coach.”

At 10, Michelle first represented NSW at the National Championships and came away with No.5 ranking in the Under 14s. She won her first National Junior Championships at 13, which was also the first year she represented Australia internationally in U15s. 

The sport has since taken her around the world and even though her first Commonwealth Games won’t take her to a far-flung location, wearing the green and gold in Australia will be something to savour. 

And after three previous attempts at making selection she said this is “an absolute dream come true”.

“There were definitely some tears when I qualified for the Australian Commonwealth Games Team. The fact that it has been such a long journey for me to get here, has made this achievement that much more special. I have fought hard for my position over the past 12 years, and to have the hard work, persistence and dedication all finally pay-off, it’s definitely a relief, and the most rewarding feeling in the world,” she said.

“Although it doesn’t sound as exciting that I am not off to some exotic location to compete, being able to compete at a home Games in front of a whole crowd of supporters is such a rare opportunity that many athletes don’t get to experience in their lifetime – the atmosphere is going to be absolutely amazing, and something I will never forget.”

After growing up and going to school in Gulgong, Michelle moved to Sydney to study for her Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing at Macquarie University, and now works in a full-time marketing role at Nestle.