Polish table tennis player Natalia Partyka became one of only two athletes scheduled to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics this year, along with South African blade runner Oscar Pistorius.

Born without a right hand and forearm, Natalia serves her opponent by balancing the ball in the folds of skin at the end of her elbow before dropping it on to her swishing bat. Therefore, she is nicknamed "Ping-pang Venus."

The 23-year-old, lost 4-2 in her third round Olympic singles match to Li Jie of the Netherlands after beating Denmark's Mie Skov 4-3 on July 29, however, is happy if her achievements act as an inspiration to others.

"For me, it (disability) is nothing." she told reporters. "Maybe someone will see me and realise that their own disability is not the end of the world," she said.