David Wetherill still isn't sure what all the fuss is about.
The British table tennis ace has been one of the stories of the 2012 Paralympic Games after making the shot heard 'round the world — an impressive dive across the table to return a volley against Germany's Thomasz Kusiak.
It doesn't matter that Wetherill lost Friday's match 3-1, or that he's now out of the Games. People can't stop talking about this amazing play, which has put the Paralympic Games and table tennis in a well-deserved spotlight. More than 2.5 million people have watched the YouTube clip of Wetherill's "superman shot." It's all caught the 22-year-old just a bit off guard.
"I will admit it looks incredible on video," Wetherill told Wired in an exclusive interview from London, where he was standing outside Olympic Stadium. "At the time I was really pleased with winning the point."
Wetherill, who recently graduated from University of Sheffield, said he's been overwhelmed by the attention. No less an authority than Table Tennis Daily called it “one of the best table tennis shots ever." But Wetherill said he didn't think it was that big a deal until much later.
"I didn't want to give up on it," he said of the point. "If I could reach it, I had the skill to get it."
Although he appreciates the kudos, Wetherill said the shot is just one example of the amazing, and often inspirational, feats so often seen in Paralympic competition. He's got a point — it's hard to watch, say, Richard Whitehead's amazing come-from-behind victory in the 200 meters or Matt Stutzman's silver medal-winning performance in archery and not be awed.
"I've got so much respect for the other players, because you see some things that are absolutely incredible," he said. "The level of sport is not so far away from the Olympics really, even though we're disabled and have limitations, we are capable of incredible things."
The Games are over for Wetherill the competitor, but not for Wetherill the fan. He's been watching the action and supporting is teammates on Team GB. The No. 5 player in the world is disappointed that he didn't win a medal, but looking forward to Rio in 2016.
"It's unreal, I can't believe it," he said of his bright future. "But it's a very small consolation from losing."
No less disappointing is the fact his coach has told him to take two months off. He's a fierce competitor and wants to start working toward gold in Rio. Until then, though, he's happy to enjoy the exposure he's brought to his sport, and to the Games. It's all been just a bit, well, ridiculous.
"On Twitter everyone has been 'ridiculous,'" he laughed. "I've been saying 'ridiculous' a lot since the commenters said it."
