In 1971, Connie Sweeris stepped onto the court in Beijing, not just as a table tennis player, but as a bridge between two nations.

In this footage, Connie recalls the overwhelming kindness of her Chinese opponents and the thunderous cheers of a crowd that chose friendship over winning. It wasn't just a match, it was the moment "the small ball moved the big ball."

Watch until the end to hear her take on why those legendary matches were about so much more than the final score.