"It’s a little bit ridiculous." When someone known as "Mother Terese" gives a confession, you know it's going to be good. The confessor in question is Terese Terranova (pictured), abbess of the Miami-area Broward Table Tennis Club. Her sin? Playing and coaching up to five hours a day, seven days a week. "It’s an addiction for me, but it’s a beautiful addiction," she rationalizes. For good or ill, she has no shortage of enablers. A highly decorated Paralympian, the now-retired Terranova focuses her inexhaustible energies on supporting South Florida's next generations of players. Born in New Jersey in 1947, the self-described "jock" conquered any sport she tried, including but not limited to swimming, basketball, track and field, and even judo. While she was adept at throwing people around, life would soon throw Terranova for a loop. In 1971, Terranova decided to move from New Jersey to Florida. Along the way, she was struck by another vehicle, crushing her against a concrete wall. While this easily could have been the tragic end of her story, Terranova miraculously survived. Her back was broken in five places, however, leaving her paralyzed. As she began her long and difficult recovery, the Jersey jock focused on learning to compete in her wheelchair. She added table tennis to her athletic arsenal, and was soon vying for medals. In 1987, she won the women's para table tennis World Championship, and backed it up the next year with two gold medals at the Paralympics in women's singles and teams. While reaching the mountaintop in one sport would be laurels enough for most athletes to rest upon, Terranova is obviously not most athletes. She is, however, most athletic, winning 30 international gold medals in six different sports. "I always remember what my mom told me, that I could do anything in my life if I wanted it enough, so everything I do, I do to the best of my abilities and the best of the ability for the person I’m dealing with, whether it’s sports, whether it’s friendship, whether it’s love," explains Terranova. "It’s all the same to me." The aforementioned elements of sports, friendship and love are all on abundant display every time the 74-year-old greets a student across the table. Among her many successful protégés are former US Men's Team member Keith Alban, Cuban champion Ariel Montalvo and Colombian Champion Aura Cristina Ocampo Lopez. "You can win all the tournaments, all the medals, but it’s not the feeling you feel when your coach is your mama, your friend, your angel," says Lopez. "It’s everything." Montalvo seconds the sweet, sentiment, saying simply, "She’s like my second mom." Thus, "Mother Terese" Terranova presides over her South Florida flock with both consummate professionalism and heartfelt care and compassion. "I created an incredible family and they’re just like they were mine," she confesses. Which, ridiculous as it may sound, they are.

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