We are all the products of our environments. Australian champion Jian Fang Lay (pictured) is no exception. Born in China in 1973, Lay grew up in the overlapping heydays of both the penhold grip and the combination racket. Thus, she grew up playing with the traditional Chinese penhold grip, blocking and smashing with the same side of the racket for forehand and backhand. Instead of hopping on the newfangled reverse penhold backhand bandwagon, however, Lay has befuddled opponents for decades by twirling her racket. On one side is conventional smooth inverted rubber, with which she usually serves. On the other side, however, lurk the dreaded long pips, confusing opponents with their own spin. Producing relentless pressure with angled blocks and constant spin variations, Lay has made a career feasting on the errors and easy smashes produced by such tactics. Now 48, Lay continues to argue persuasively for the persistent viability of said strategies. After moving to Australia in the 1990s, Lay has represented her adoptive homeland at every Olympics since 2000. Although her world ranking of 156 is tops among Australian women, an uncharacteristically underwhelming undertaking at Australia's Olympic trials left her on the outside looking in. Then came news that Australian national team member Stephanie Sang had withdrawn from the summer Games, citing personal reasons. This opened the door for Lay to appear in her sixth Olympiad, tying the record for Australian women set by equestrienne Mary Hanna. The inclusion also places Lay into a tie for second all-time among table tennis players, trailing the six players with seven Olympic appearances (quick, who can name them all?). "I am so proud of what I've achieved, it's unbelievable," said Lay on Monday. Scott Houston, chief executive of Table Tennis Australia, concurred wholeheartedly. "She is an Australian sporting treasure," gushed Houston. "To maintain her standard on the international stage for more than 20 years is phenomenal." With her unorthodox yet unshakeable style, Jian Fang Lay does more than maintain the standard. She sets it.

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