Jan-Ove Waldner

Infobox Tabletennis player
playername= Jan-Ove Waldner


fullname = Jan-Ove Waldner
nicknames = 老瓦 (Lao Wa)
nationality = SWE
playingstyle = Shake hands grip
birthdate = birth date and age|1965|10|3
birthplace = Stockholm, Sweden|

Jan-Ove (JO) Waldner (nicknamed 老瓦 in China) is a Swedish table tennis player born 3 October 1965. He is known as 'the Mozart of table tennis' [http://www.tabletennismaster.com/jan-ove-waldner.html] [http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/23/olypong_ed3_.php] and is a legend in both his native Sweden as well as in China.

Career

Waldner's potential was recognized at an early age and was displayed in 1982 as a 16 year old when he reached the final of the European Championship, losing to teammate Mikael Appelgren. As a youngster he along with other Swedish players went to a training camp in China and was amazed by their dedication, and claims he learned much during his stay.

In China, a country that loves table tennis, he is the best known Swede and the best known sports personality. Waldner is referred to as 'the evergreen tree' as well as 'the Michael Jordan of table tennis' and people often flock to see him when he comes.

Waldner has as of 2006 been playing high level table tennis for some 20 years, unusual in the table tennis world where hand-eye coordination and quick reactions are important. Some young Chinese players that he played recently were trained by those he played in the 1990s, who were in turn trained by others he played in the 1980s.

In the 2004 Olympics he still proved to be among the top players by reaching the semi-finals and defeating both Timo Boll of Germany and Ma Lin of China.Today he plays for TTC Rhön-Sprudel Fulda-Maberzell in the German Bundesliga. He received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1992.

Holds a career grand slam of 4 majors (2 World Championships, 1 Olympic Gold, 1 World Cup), a record unbroken until Ma Lin's Beijing 2008 Olympic Gold.

Personal

Waldner owns a restaurant in China called the "W Bar". [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/23/sports/24swede.php?page=1]

World Championships

* 1983 Silver medal in team competition
* 1985 Silver medal in team competition
* 1987 Silver medal in single, silver medal in team competition
* 1989 Gold medal in single, gold medal in team competition
* 1991 Silver medal in single, gold medal in team competition
* 1993 Bronze medal in single, gold medal in team competition
* 1995 Silver medal in team competition
* 1997 Gold medal in single (21-0 in games), silver medal in double
* 1999 Bronze medal in single
* 2000 Gold medal in team competition

Olympic Games

* 1988 Final 8 in single, final 8 in double
* 1992 Gold medal in single, first round in double
* 1996 Final 16 in single, final 8 in double
* 2000 Silver medal in single, final 16 in double
* 2004 Fourth in single, final 8 in double

European Championships

* 1982 Silver medal in single
* 1984 Silver medal in double
* 1986 Gold medal in double, gold medal in team competition
* 1988 Gold medal in double, gold medal in team competition
* 1990 Gold medal in team competition
* 1992 Silver medal in double, gold medal in team competition
* 1994 Silver medal in single, silver medal in team competition
* 1996 Gold medal in single, gold medal in double, gold medal in team competition
* 2000 Gold medal in team competition
* 2002 Gold medal in team competition

wedish Championships

* 1981 Gold medal in double
* 1982 Gold medal in double
* 1983 Gold medal in single
* 1984 Gold medal in single
* 1986 Gold medal in single, gold medal in double
* 1988 Silver medal in double
* 1989 Gold medal in single, silver medal in double
* 1991 Gold medal in single, gold medal in double
* 1992 Gold medal in double
* 1993 Silver medal in double
* 1994 Silver medal in single, gold medal in double
* 1996 Gold medal in single
* 1997 Gold medal in single, silver medal in double
* 1999 Gold medal in double
* 2006 Gold medal in single

External links

* [http://www.ittf.com/ittf_stats/All_events3.asp?ID=7593&From=1926&To=&s_EVENTS=OG&s_Evnt=S&s_Gender=Male&s_gender2=& International championship statistics]
* [http://www.svenskbordtennis.com Swedish championship statistics]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGVoT4L9DA Waldner Highlights]

References

* "Svenskar i världen" ("Swedes in the World"), Spring edition 2005, Swedish magazine.