Brazilian table tennis players who shaped the sport
The best-known Brazilian table tennis players are Hugo Calderano, 2025 World Cup winner and world silver medalist, Hugo Hoyama, who played six Olympics and won ten Pan Am Games golds, and Claudio Kano, a pioneer of the 1980s and 1990s. Among women, Bruna Takahashi stands out, and in para table tennis Bruna Alexandre and Cátia Oliveira.
In this article
Brazil does not have the table tennis tradition of China, Japan or Germany, but it does have a list of players who made history. Some ruled the Americas for decades, others took the country deep into Olympic and World Championship draws, and others shone in para table tennis. This page brings together the best-known Brazilian table tennis players from different generations, with a quick summary of what each one achieved.
The history of the sport in the country, from the arrival of ping pong to the founding of the national federation, is in table tennis in Brazil. Here the focus is on the people.
Brazilian players at a glance
| Player | Era | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Claudio Kano | 1980s and 1990s | 12 Pan Am Games medals, 7 gold |
| Hugo Hoyama | 1990s to 2010s | Six Olympics and ten Pan Am golds |
| Hugo Calderano | Since the 2010s | 2025 World Cup champion and world silver medalist |
| Gustavo Tsuboi | 2000s to 2020s | Four Olympics, round of 16 at Tokyo 2020 |
| Bruna Takahashi | Since 2016 | First Brazilian woman in the world top 20 in singles |
| Bruna Alexandre | Since 2016 | Six Paralympic medals and one Olympics |
| Cátia Oliveira | Since 2021 | Paralympic medals in Tokyo and Paris |
The pioneers: Claudio Kano and Hugo Hoyama
Claudio Kano was born in São Paulo in 1965 and was one of the first Brazilians to play the sport at the Olympics, at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992. He won 12 Pan American Games medals and died in a motorcycle accident in 1996, weeks before the Atlanta Games.
Hugo Hoyama, from São Bernardo do Campo, was Kano's doubles partner and Brazil's top name for more than 20 years. He played six straight Olympics, from 1992 to 2012, and won 15 Pan Am Games medals, 10 of them gold. At Atlanta 1996 he reached the round of 16. He later coached the women's national team.
The two showed that Brazil could lead table tennis in the Americas, a tradition that still holds at the Pan American Games.
Hugo Calderano, the greatest of them all
Hugo Calderano, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1996, has the best results of any Brazilian player in history. He was the first Latin American to reach an Olympic semifinal, at Paris 2024, where he finished 4th. In 2025 he won the World Cup and took silver at the World Championships in Doha. In 2026 he reached world No. 2 and, with Bruna Takahashi, won the mixed doubles at WTT Singapore Smash.
The men's generation alongside Calderano
Calderano did not carry the team alone. Gustavo Tsuboi played four Olympics and had his best result at Tokyo 2020, reaching the singles round of 16. At Paris 2024, Brazil's men's team was Calderano, Vitor Ishiy and Guilherme Teodoro, who beat Portugal and reached the team quarterfinals, where they lost to host nation France.
The women: Bruna and Giulia Takahashi
Bruna Takahashi, born in 2000 in São Bernardo do Campo, made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 at age 15 and also played Tokyo and Paris. She was the first Brazilian woman to break into the world top 20 in singles. Her sister Giulia Takahashi also plays for the national team, and the two played the Paris 2024 team event together.
The Paralympic champions
Brazil is even stronger in para table tennis:
- Bruna Alexandre, a class 10 player, has medals from Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. In Paris she became the first Brazilian to compete at both the Olympics and the Paralympics.
- Cátia Oliveira, a wheelchair player, won singles bronze at Tokyo 2020 and doubles bronze at Paris 2024.
- Danielle Rauen won bronze at three Paralympics in a row, including the Paris doubles with Bruna Alexandre.
How to follow Brazilian players
Results and rankings change every week. To follow the Brazilians, the best sources are the Brazilian federation (CBTM), the ITTF and WTT, which streams much of the pro tour.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best Brazilian table tennis player ever?
Hugo Calderano. He finished 4th at Paris 2024, won the World Cup and took world championships silver in 2025, and reached world No. 2 in 2026.
Who is the Brazilian table tennis player named Hugo?
There are two famous ones. Hugo Calderano, born in 1996, is the current star. Hugo Hoyama, born in 1969, played six Olympics and won ten Pan Am Games golds.
Who is the best female Brazilian table tennis player?
In Olympic table tennis, Bruna Takahashi, the first Brazilian woman in the world top 20 in singles. In para table tennis, Bruna Alexandre, with six medals across three Paralympics.
Has Brazil ever won an Olympic medal in table tennis?
Not at the Olympic Games, as of Paris 2024. The best result is Hugo Calderano's 4th place in Paris. At the Paralympics, Brazil has won several medals.