Maxime Thomas (born 17 December 1983) is a French

para table tennis Para table tennis is a parasports which follows the rules set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The usual table tennis rules are in effect with slight modifications for wheelchair athletes. Athletes from disability groups can ...

player who competes in international level events. He is a triple Paralympic bronze medalist, a World champion and six time European champion in team events. He is also a four-time World bronze medalist and double European champion in singles events. Thomas was paralysed from the waist down aged 15 following a diagnosis of an

autoimmune disease An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a functioning body part. At least 80 types of autoimmune diseases have been identified, with some evidence suggesting that there may be more than 100 types. Nearly a ...

and he spent almost two years in a rehabilitation centre. He discovered para table tennis in 2000 when he got inspired by watching the

2000 Summer Paralympics The 2000 Summer Paralympic Games or the XI Summer Paralympics were held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, between 18 and 29 October. The Sydney Paralympics was last time that the Summer Paralympics which were organized by two different ...

once he left hospital, he played the sport that year and played competitively in 2001.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Maxime 1983 births Living people Sportspeople from Nancy, France Sportspeople from Lyon Paralympic table tennis players for France Table tennis players at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Table tennis players at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Table tennis players at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Table tennis players at the 2020 Summer Paralympics French male table tennis players 21st-century French people 20th-century French people