England s table tennis hero died young at the age of 53, and the ITTF and England Table Tennis Association issued a message to express their condolences.

Vechko passes away, Table Tennis England: The disabled table tennis community mourns, our legend

ITTF: Deeply mourning Goraz Večko (1972-2025).

The International Table Tennis Federation deeply mourns the passing of Goraz Večko, a member of the ITTF Paralympic Table Tennis Committee and one of the most respected figures in the global Paralympic table tennis community.

Wechko has served as the event director of the International Paralympic Table Tennis Committee since 2009, and was appointed as a member of the ITTF Paralympic Table Tennis Committee in 2010. He played an active role in formulating the ITTF Paralympic Table Tennis strategic plan and promoting the global development of the project.

He was born in Ljubljana in 1972. His coaching career began in Slovenia, where he guided Matja Pintar to win a historic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games - Slovenia's first gold medal in Paralympic table tennis.

Since 2009, he has become a core figure in the British Paralympic table tennis team, leading the team to achieve outstanding achievements, winning a total of 19 Paralympic medals and multiple world and European championship titles. For his lifelong dedication, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2023 in recognition of his contribution to British Paralympic table tennis.

The ITTF extends its sincere condolences to his family, friends and the global Paralympic table tennis community.

England Table Tennis: The disabled table tennis community mourns "our legend" Goraz Večko

The British disabled table tennis community is immersed in grief. The much-loved and inspiring Performance Director Goraz Večko unfortunately passed away at the age of 53.

As the son of former world and European table tennis champion Edvard Večko, he coached Matja Pinta at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, winning Slovenia's first Paralympic table tennis gold medal. He was recruited into the GB Para Table Tennis team in 2009 after their poor performance at the Beijing Paralympic Games. Facts have proved that this is a very far-sighted choice. As a coach, administrator and visionary, he will be remembered as one of the most influential figures in para table tennis.

Wechcoe revolutionized British para table tennis, establishing a high-performance training base in Sheffield and introducing a "family culture" that allowed athletes to thrive and reach their potential.

Under his leadership, Team GB made significant progress, winning four medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and three medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, including gold medals for Will Bailey (Men's Category 7 Singles) and Rob Davies (Men's Category 1 Singles).

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, the team won seven medals, setting its best record in the modern Paralympic era, and then won five more medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Between 2009 and 2015, Wechko served as the director of the ITTF Disability Events and was appointed as a member of the ITTF Disability Committee in 2021. He is also the vice-president of the England Table Tennis Association, and was awarded the Honorary Imperial Order by King Charles III in 2023 for his contribution to British disabled table tennis.

"We are incredibly heartbroken, we have lost a dear friend and the soul of our sport," said Adele Stach-kiewicz, chairman of Para Table Tennis UK. "Goráz Večko is a legend of our own; he was humble and unassuming, yet gifted and always willing to share. He was a man of huge character and leadership, and the beating heart of our British Para Table Tennis family. "

Wečko was a devoted family member who is survived by his father Edvar, mother Zlata, wife Sabina, children Pia and Alex, and grandchildren Zara and Philip.

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