Erica Wu is part of a young group of players looked at

Erica Wu is part of a young group of players looked at as the next generation of American table tennis. Wu, 16, won a team bronze medal along with fellow teenagers Ariel Hsing and Lily Zhang at the 2011 Pan American Games. She is also the 2011 USA women’s doubles champion and a 2011 semifinalist in the singles event.

Wu is learning from one of the best in the United States. The 16-year-old is coached by and trains with Gao Jun, a 2009 USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame inductee. Jun has been to four Olympics – three for the United States and one for China – and qualified for her fourth-straight for London 2012.

Erica has 2 dogs and 1 cat and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. Her favorite subject in school is science and she’s obsessed with Harry Potter and the Hunger Games.

Awww we love her already!!

Erica Wu is featured in Top Spin, a feature-length documentary film, about the sport of table tennis, by Sara Newens and Mina T. Son. The film is currently in post-production and slated to be completed in early 2013.

Imagine the smell of fresh rubber paddles, hollow plastic balls whirling by at 80 mph, and exclamations of victory interrupted by bitter cries of defeat. Welcome to the world of competitive table tennis. Top Spin explores what is at stake for teen athletes striving for the Olympics and the families who support and sacrifice for them. But with no professional future for the sport in the U.S., in addition to the pressures of rigorous training, international tournaments, schoolwork and SAT’s — is it all worth it in the end?

ASIANCE: How did you get into table tennis? Does anyone else in your family play?

Erica: When I was little, I played a lot of different sports (basketball, soccer, tennis and table tennis). My table tennis coach kept telling my parents that I had talent and I start playing tournaments. I won a trophy when I was 9, and I was so excited that I decided to focus on this sport.

No one plays table tennis other than me in my family.

ASIANCE: Do you have any thoughts on what you would like to be when you grow up?

Erica: I want to be a veterinarian.

ASIANCE: What clubs or extracurricular activities did you enjoy? If Asian specific, why did you choose to join?

Erica: I play piano and flute.

Pasadena Westridge student Erica Wu qualifies for 2012 Olympics

ASIANCE: Are you looking at Colleges/Universities yet? Any idea where you would like to attend?

Erica: I have not started researching yet, but right now my first choice is Stanford. I participated in a summer program at Stanford when I was 12, and I loved the campus.

ASIANCE: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Erica: In college.

ASIANCE: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Erica: Just finishing up veterinarian school.

ASIANCE: Looking back would you do anything differently?

Erica: No

ASIANCE: Was there anything hard about being Asian at your school?

Erica: No

ASIANCE: How was your time in London? What other events did you go to?

Erica: I loved London! The Olympics were really well organized, and there were tons of helpful volunteers everywhere. After our matches, we went sightseeing, and we watched Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre. We also watched water polo, and gymnastics the day our women’s team won gold.

2012 North American Olympic Table Tennis Trials Press Conference

ASIANCE: Who are you favorite Asian athletes?

Erica: I really admire the entire Chinese national table tennis team. Outside of table tennis, I like Jeremy Lin.

ASIANCE: What advice would you give to girls who want to follow in your table tennis playing foot steps?

Erica: If you really want to be good at table tennis, or at anything really, it’s very important to stay determined and never give up. It definitely will be frustrating sometimes, and there are going to be times where you will get frustrated. But if trying and learning from your mistakes, you will eventually be successful.

ASIANCE: What is next for you in terms of your table tennis career?

Erica: Right now, I am concentrating more on school, but I will try to also make the Rio Olympics.