With an altitude over 6,000 feet, Colorado Springs has about 20% less oxygen than at sea level. This makes working out at the Olympic Training Center even more grueling, and all the more rewarding. The 2019 US National Table Tennis Team recently got to find out firsthand. From December 30 to January 5, National Team Coach Jeorg Bitzigeio led the United States' top table tennis players in a rigorous training regimen. Of course table tennis was the main course, but the players also cross-trained with the latest stamina and agility exercises. These included hiking, treadmills, ropes and even boxing. After the daily morning and afternoon workouts, the team found time for some fun team-building activities like bowling and watching a basketball game. With the National Championships on the horizon this summer, followed by the Pan Am Games in Peru, the National Team will certainly benefit from this high-level training. As Rachel Yang reported, "My stamina actually improved a lot, even in a short space of time." It is little wonder that they adapted so quickly. As the best of the best, they are already used to living in rarefied air.

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