Puerto Rico table tennis pioneer to receive global recognition.
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Gaetán Rivera was sport’s first woman to lead a national federation
By THE STAR STAFF
A mid the centennial celebrations marking the founding of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) — one of the world’s most prominent sports organizations, with 227 affiliated nations — Puerto Rico has achieved a historic moment of international recognition.
The ITTF announced this past weekend that it will bestow the prestigious 2026 ITTF Merit Award upon Lissette “Kiki” Gaetán Rivera of San Juan, highlighting her extraordinary career and her contributions to the development of table tennis at both national and international levels.
The recognition takes on even greater significance as it is awarded during the ITTF’s 100th anniversary year, underscoring the legacy of a figure who marked a turning point in the history of the sport.
In 1977, Gaetán Rivera made history by becoming the first woman in the world to preside over a national federation affiliated with the ITTF, assuming the presidency of the Puerto Rican Table Tennis Federation. That achievement occurred during an era when international sports leadership positions were predominantly held by men, establishing her as a true pioneer for equality and inclusion in sports.
In addition to her leadership roles, Gaetán Rivera was a distinguished athlete herself; she was crowned national champion in the women’s category in 1973 and remained ranked among the island’s top players for several years.
Her legacy also encompasses fundamental contributions to the institutional strengthening of table tennis in Puerto Rico, as well as her historic role as the first woman to serve as a full-fledged delegate to the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee — thereby paving the way for future generations of women in sports administration.
On the international stage, she held leadership positions within the Latin American Table Tennis Union, contributing to the development and global promotion of the sport throughout the region.
In recognition of her extraordinary career, she was inducted into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, becoming the only woman among the table tennis inductees to receive that distinction. The official presentation of the 2026 ITTF Merit Award will take place during the World Table Tennis Championships in London on May 3, at the ITTF Annual General Meeting, where Gaetán Rivera will be honored before the international sports community.
The recognition not only honors the career of an exceptional figure but also positions Puerto Rico as a key player in the global history of table tennis and highlights the contribution of small federations to the sport’s development worldwide.