The the world has lost one of its greatest athletes and entertainers. Legendary French table tennis ambassador Jacques Secrétin died yesterday at the age of 71. Born in 1949, Secrétin began to play with a traditional hardbat at age eight. By 13, he had learned the newfangled sponge rubber game well enough to make the French national team. By 17, he won the first of his 17 national singles championships. Secrétin's stellar playing career also saw him win the 1976 European Championship in men's singles. At the 1977 World Championships, Secrétin secured gold in mixed doubles with Claude Bergeret, an experience she described as a "beautiful adventure." An exuberant player, comfortable lobbing and looping from anywhere on the court, Secrétin found a second career as an entertainer. Along with his comedic partner Vincent Purkart, Secrétin performed over 4,000 table tennis exhibitions around the world as Le Show Secrétin-Purkart, wowing neophytes and pros alike with their dazzling displays of dexterity until 2007. Always a passionate player, Secrétin stayed involved in table tennis even after his second retirement. He gave his time to teach countless schoolchildren the game, and even volunteered in prison outreach programs. Secrétin was registered for the 2020 World Veterans Championships, which was postponed due to COVID-19. He recently spoke of his excitement for the age 70-75 championship next year in Bordeaux. "This will be my last challenge, but it won't stop me from continuing to play," he said earlier this year. Jacques Secrétin played table tennis like the Harlem Globetrotters play basketball, like Victor Borge played piano, like Charlie Chaplin played a tramp: with world-class skill, and a genius for comedy.

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