Jan ove waldner biography

If there was no Jan-Ove Waldner he would have to be invented.

His unique touch for the ball, his enormous creativity, his immaculate technique and his fantastic anticipation always made his play look effortless and elegant, nonchalant and superior, in one word: cool.

His inimitable abilities helped him win all titles the world of table tennis offers and more than that: He is undoubtedly the best table tennis player of all time, fans all over the world love and adore him.

"I was the last player the Chinese really feared."

In China, which climbed up to be the undisputed leading nation only after the era of Jan-Ove Waldner and Jörgen Persson, JO is known by his nickname Evergreen, because he bested several generations of Chinese superstars.

In 2013 China dedicated a stamp to him. Waldner was the first foreigner ever to receive this honour, and more than three million copies were sold on the very first day.

It seems odd that there is no Waldner-Comic yet, for he is undoubtedly the superhero of table tennis.

A few weeks before the World Championships 1989 were held in Dortmund, the German magazine DER SPIEGEL published a preview with the headline: "Favourite: Mozart".

Waldner fulfilled all expectations, winning the most precious titles: men’s singles and team event (with Sweden). He belonged to the top players of the world for two and a half decades. Mozart remained his nickname, but for DONIC he is foremost a good friend by now.

"To me DONIC is friendship, family."

DONIC was Waldner’s partner from childhood, he achieved all great successes with equipment from the German traditional brand, and his invaluable experience helps DONIC in designing new equipment for years.

To enable young talents to follow Jan-Ove Waldner’s steps.

1965-

Swedish table tennis player

Jan Ove Waldner has been called the "Mozart of table tennis" because of his ability to play many different compositions on the table. If not Mozart, Waldner is certainly the Michael Jordan of his sport. His domination and nearly mythical status among the sport's players and fans is unprecedented in the history of the game. Although table tennis doesn't enjoy the respect reserved for the world's more recognized sports, Waldner, in countries that take the sport seriously, is widely recognized as the best player of all time. He is one of two players in the sport's history to win all three major titles—at the World Championships, the Olympics and the World Cup. He is also known for possessing the finest serve technique in the European game.

Born October 3, 1965 in Stockholm, Sweden, Waldner quickly became interested in the sport to which he would ultimately devote his life. At the age of six, he asked his parents if he and his brother could participate in a small local tournament. With the encouragement of his parents, Waldner would go on from there to become the Swedish champion for his age group by the time he was nine years old. He turned professional at the age of fifteen and won his first tournament, and a Porsche, at the age of sixteen.

Pride and Prejudice

While Waldner enjoys a faithful fan base in Sweden, table tennis hasn't been given the respect its players and fans believe it deserves. In China, the sport's other powerhouse, the sport is played by the masses. The Chinese play in clubs and schools and even on cement slabs in the park. In the United States, however, the game is largely recreational and usually called Ping-Pong, a name given to the game when Parker Brothers first manufactured a set of equipment more than fifty years ago. Although in some corners of the world the game is wildly popular and highly competitive, it has never risen above its recreational reputation in much

Jan-Ove Waldner (born October 3, 1965 in Stockholm) is a male table tennis player from Sweden. He was the third man in table tennis history to become Grand-Slam champion. He played to 2012 in the German club TTC Röhn-Sprudel Fulda Maberzell and was the best Swedish table tennis player.

Early years (1970-1980)

When Waldner was five years old, He startd playing table tennis. His older brother and his parents were also players. Early on, Waldner was stand on pedestals or buckets. Soon, he began to play in the Swedish club Spåvägens BTK. Waldner was trainied by different coaches as well as his family. When he was nine years old, he won for the Swedish National Championships in his age group. Growing up, he did not only play table tennis. He also loved football and tennis. By the age of thirteen, he only played Table tennis. Waldner left school early to become a professional player. In his first year as a pro, he played his first tournament and won a automobile.

Sporting career

Early career (1980s-1990s)

Waldner played his first international tournament at the Nordic Championships in Denmark. He played very well. He won gold in singles play and silver in doubles. At the 1982 European Championships for children and teenagers, he won silver. With this tournament, he moved from number 90 to number 22 in the junior world rankings. That same year, Waldner played at the European Championships for adults. He won silver. In 1983, he played very well. At his first World Cup, he won silver. He played in his first World Championships and placed in the top sixteen as a single player. In doubles play,

Swedish table tennis player

Jan-Ove Waldner (Swedish:[ˈjɑːnuːvɛˈvǎldnɛr]; born 3 October 1965), in Sweden commonly J-O Waldner or simply mononymously as J-O (Swedish:[ˈjîː.(j)uː]), is a Swedish former professional table tennis player. He is often referred to as "the Mozart of table tennis." A sporting legend in his native Sweden as well as in China, he is known in China as 老瓦 Lǎo Wǎ ("Old Wa") or 常青树 Cháng Qīng Shù ("Evergreen Tree"), because of his extraordinary longevity and competitiveness.

Biography

Jan-Ove Waldner was born in Stockholm on 3 October 1965. His athletic potential was recognised at an early age and was displayed in 1982 when, as a 16-year-old, he reached the final of the European Championships, losing to distinguished left-handed teammate Mikael Appelgren, who was perceived then as the logical successor to the first Swedish World Champion, Stellan Bengtsson. While still developing his game, Waldner, along with several other Swedish players, traveled to a national-level training camp held in China, and was reportedly amazed by the dedication and solidarity of the Chinese players. He has claimed ever since that he learned much during his stay, and thereafter first began to regard his opportunity to succeed in table tennis as paramount.

Waldner won gold in the men's singles at 1992 Summer Olympics, becoming the first and to date only player not from China, Japan, or South Korea to win an Olympic table tennis title. Eight years later, he won silver in the same event at the 2000 Summer Olympics, narrowly losing to Kong Linghui.

In China, a country that adores table tennis, he is undisputedly the best-known Swedish person, and still one of the most well-known sports personalities. In the 1990s, he was more recognisable in China than then-President of the United States Bill Clinton.