Chelsea Edghill is unique. In a country of nearly 800,000 people, she is the only person to have represented Guyana in table tennis at the Olympic Games.

The 26-year-old became a pioneer for paddlers in the South American country when she took part at Tokyo 2020, being named the country's joint-flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony.

She while recalling the moment in a conversation with Olympics.com at the recent IOC Athletes Forum in Lausanne, revealed, “The emotion was pride. It was the culmination of all the years of hard work leading to that one moment, being able to carry the flag. For me to be given that opportunity at the Olympics was just one that I will remember forever.”

Edghill, who is currently unranked in the world standings and plays in the German second division rather than on the international circuit, has had difficulties coming through her sport in a country not known for it.

Indeed, she wants to help change the prospects for athletes in Guyana. She explained, “There was not really a map to say you get from point A to point B. You had to figure it out as you go along, trial and error. There are the other challenges that we faced as well, funding, competitions and these kinds of things. So looking back on it, I am really happy to know that I navigated those things to be able to be at the Olympics.”

Edghill is fully aware of the sacrifices sportspeople in Guyana have to make to reach the top level.

When she competed at Tokyo 2020, she did it off the back of a universality invitation from the Tripartite Commission, awarded to athletes from smaller countries. Her application was boosted by a strong performance in the Latin American qualifier, where she reached the last eight.

With all the hurdles Guyanese athletes face, Edghill – a chemistry graduate – is hoping to form the next generation of sports administrators in her country improving conditions for her peers.

She added, “I have taken an interest in sports management," she revealed. "I'm leaning towards policy development in my country especially, and just being able to help develop sports in Guyana.”

Edghill revels in her position as a role model, just as she was inspired by a previous Guyanese female Olympian.”My role model is, and it still is, Allian Pompey, who inspired me to want to go to the Olympics,” Edghill professed. 

“I saw her competing at one of her Olympics (Pompey was a four-time Olympian from 2000 to 2012 in track &field) and said to myself that I want to be just like her,” concluded the Joan of Arc in Guyana table tennis.