TABLE TENNIS STAR TO RECEIVE OLYMPIC MEDAL DURING TOURNAMENT
October 20, 2009

FORT WORTH, TX:  Jasna Rather achieved a goal that most can only dream of – winning an Olympic medal. The table tennis star and head coach at Texas Wesleyan University earned her bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, competing in doubles with Gordana Perkucin and representing Yugoslavia.

As Rather continued playing tennis table around the world, she left the medal with relatives back home. Unfortunately, the medal was misplaced during the Bosnian War and was never recovered.

When University President Harold Jeffcoat learned that the medal was gone, he contacted the International Olympic Committee to find out what could be done to replace the symbol of her accomplishments. His quest was successful. Twenty-one years after winning the medal, Rather will be presented with a new one at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Sid Richardson Center Jeffcoat will make the presentation during the Texas Wesleyan Open Tournament.

Jeffcoat will also present the 2008-2009 championship rings to the table tennis team during the tournament. Texas Wesleyan University has won national awards every year since 2002. The program has garnered 38 out of 52 possible honors during their eight years. Rather was on the first team in 2002. 

Rather was born in Bosnia and played in the Olympics for Yugoslavia in 1988 and again in 1992. She became a United States citizen in 1999. In 2000 and 2004, she played in the Olympics representing the USA.

She began playing when she was eight years old – primarily because her older sister was playing and her uncle was coaching. At the time, Rather didn’t have expectations of great success; it was just an organized activity to keep her busy. But by the time she was 15, she was the best player in the country.