from Bowmar Sports and Carlos Gracia Rodriguez)
Recently, we had the opportunity to connect with Carlos Gracia Rodriguez, an architect of Puerto Rico’s National Junior High Performance Program and a driving force pushing for development of the island’s next generation of table tennis talent. Carlos shared the story of how a chance encounter in elementary school turned into a lifelong mission.
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Give us some background – Tell us about your journey in the sport?
Table tennis has been much more than a sport to me — it has been my way of life.
My journey began when I was 10 years old. One day, a table tennis coach visited my elementary school looking for children to introduce to the sport. At that moment, I was sitting in my English class. My physical education teacher told the coach about a young boy who loved playing every sport, and that boy was me. They came to get me, and I walked out of my English class and into my very first table tennis practice — a moment that changed my life forever.
From that day forward, table tennis became my passion. At the age of 13, I earned a place on the Puerto Rico Senior National Team, where I proudly represented my country for several years. The sport allowed me to travel, compete internationally, and create unforgettable experiences that shaped me both as an athlete and as a person.
After turning 18, I continued my education while competing for my university team. Thanks to table tennis, I received a full athletic scholarship and earned my degree in Education, opening the door to a career that combines my two greatest passions: sports and teaching.
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When did you start coaching?
At 22 years old, I began my coaching career in my hometown of Corozal, where I focused on developing young athletes. The success of that program caught the attention of the Puerto Rico Table Tennis Federation, which invited me to lead the National Cadet and Junior Program at the Olympic Training Center and Sports School.
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Tell us about the High Performance Program?
For the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of leading Puerto Rico’s National Junior High Performance Program. Together with an outstanding team, we have achieved success at the Caribbean, Central American, Pan American, and World levels. Even more rewarding than the medals has been the opportunity to positively impact the lives of hundreds of young athletes, helping them grow not only into champions but also into responsible, disciplined, and successful individuals.
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What is “next” for you?
Today, I remain committed to the same mission that inspired me from the beginning: to use the beautiful sport of table tennis as a tool to develop world-class athletes and, above all, exceptional human beings.
Since the majority of Puerto Rico’s current Senior National Team developed through this training center, I have now returned to working with the youngest players to build the next generation of champions. This new chapter is especially meaningful to me because I have the opportunity to pass on everything I have learned to future generations.
Now, I am more motivated than ever. Representing the Butterfly brand gives me even greater inspiration and purpose as I continue pursuing this vision. Together, we will keep building the future of Puerto Rican table tennis — developing elite athletes while shaping outstanding human beings, one player at a time.
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