About Michael

Landers, a Long Island, New York, native stumbled into the sport of table tennis at the age of 9 after suffering a broken arm that prevented him from playing most other sports. From there, he developed a passion for it and currently trains at a table tennis club in Manhattan. When he isn’t traveling the Long Island Rail Road to practice, he studies online to complete his high school work and travels to China to train with the world’s best players.

Athletic Achievements

• Became the youngest U.S. Men's Singles Champion at age 15
• First place at the 2010 U.S. National Junior Singles event
• 2010 Youth Olympic Games - Boys PanAm Qualifier
• 2009 U.S. National Championships - Men's Singles Champion
• 2009 World Junior Circuit Canada - Cadet Teams First Place
• 2009 North American Championships - Cadet Boys Champion

Landers’ Approach to Nutrition

• The long practice sessions and stamina required in table tennis mean Landers tries to eat as healthy as possible. He avoids excessive sweets and eats fruit as well as protein before and after his workouts.
• A typical week includes five days of table tennis practice and five to six days of physical training.
• Landers' favorite Kellogg's® product is Special K® cereal, a frequent start to his training day.

Away From The Table

• Michael’s other passion is music. Blessed with the gift of perfect pitch, he was the only freshman in high school to make the New York State Honor Band, studying the bassoon. Now, when he needs a break from school work or training, he sits at his keyboard or piano and plays virtually anything he has ever heard. This helps him prepare for his next challenge.