Welsh-Chinese table tennis prodigy Anna Hursey dreams of Olympic medals and a carbon-free world
- The 14-year-old Wales national team member is a United Nations ‘young champion’ and received a call from the Biden administration last month
- Hursey, the youngest-ever Commonwealth Games competitor, recalls training in Tianjin under strict coaches and against older boys
British-Chinese table tennis player Anna Hursey is the youngest athlete in history to play at the Commonwealth Games, a Welsh national championships silver medallist, and is in talks with US president Joe Biden’s administration over how to define sport’s role in climate change. What were you up to aged 14?
Born in Camarthen, Wales to a Welsh father and Chinese mother, Hursey was appointed as a United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework “young champion” in February for her ongoing vow to reduce her carbon footprint. She soon received a call across the pond from the US embassy, whose incumbent tasked it with getting the country to 100 per cent clean energy and zero emissions by 2050.
The teen is expecting another call from US ambassador to the UK, Yael Lempert, ahead of Earth Day this month. Hursey continues to speak up on environmental issues between homework, training and competitions.
“I remain carbon neutral by using as few fossil fuels as possible and offsetting my carbon footprint by investing in projects to help the environment and the poor,” Hursey told the Post.
“For my carbon emissions – which range from being in a car, to the things I buy or eat, to the electricity I use – I calculate from a carbon footprint calculator what I have used. For example, one month – two tons, I then offset this amount by investing in projects which help reduce the amount of carbon that month. I try to have as small carbon emissions as possible.”