One of the pleasures of the Olympics is having the chance to take a closer look at sports we don't usually pay much attention to. In the U.S., table tennis is probably associated more with basement rec-rooms and childhood amusements than top-notch athletic competition. Some may even consider it a game, not a proper sport. Here's a look back at some of the action on the tennis tables in the last couple days. Whatever you want to call it, it's clear that these competitors are true athletes.

Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images

Chuang Chih-Yuan of Taiwan serves during his men's bronze medal singles match against Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany on Aug. 2.

Bernd Thissen / EPA

China's Jike Zhang competes against Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany on Aug. 2 in this multiple exposure image.

Sergei Grits / AP

Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany reacts during the bronze medal match against Chuang Chih-yuan of Taiwan on Aug. 2.

Sergei Grits / AP

Natalia Partyka of Poland prepares to serve against Mie Skov of Denmark in the second round of the women's singles table tennis on July 28. Partyka was born
was born without a right hand or forearm

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