Dimitrij Ovtcharov: the German with 6 Olympic medals and a former world No. 1
Dimitrij Ovtcharov is a German table tennis player born in Kyiv in 1988, a right-handed shakehand attacker. He has six Olympic medals (two silver and four bronze), won the 2017 World Cup and was world No. 1 in 2018. In 2026 he is still on tour and reached the WTT Contender Panagyurishte final.
In this article
Dimitrij Ovtcharov is one of Germany's most decorated table tennis players, with six Olympic medals. At 38 he is still on tour and remains inside the world top 25. This page covers Ovtcharov's career, titles and playing style.
Who is Dimitrij Ovtcharov
Ovtcharov was born on 2 September 1988 in Kyiv, then part of the Soviet Union and now Ukraine, and represents Germany. He is right-handed and plays the shakehand grip. He is 1.86 m tall. His father, Mikhail Ovtcharov, was also a table tennis player.
Ovtcharov's titles
| Competition | Results |
|---|---|
| Olympics | 6 medals: team silver in 2008 and Tokyo 2020; singles bronze in 2012 and Tokyo 2020; team bronze in 2012 and 2016 |
| World Championships | Team silver in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018; doubles bronze in 2023 |
| World Cup | Champion in 2017 |
| European Championships | Singles gold in 2013 and 2015 |
| Ranking | Career high: No. 1 (2018) |
The Olympic Games
Ovtcharov has played five Games, from Beijing 2008 to Paris 2024. In London 2012 he won bronze in singles and in the team event. In Tokyo 2020 he took singles bronze again and team silver with Germany. In total that is two silvers and four bronzes, with no gold.
World No. 1 and the World Cup
In 2017 he won the World Cup in Liège and in 2018 he reached No. 1 in the world ranking. At the 2023 World Championships in Durban he won doubles bronze with Patrick Franziska.
2025 and 2026
In May 2025 he withdrew from the Doha World Championships because of a disc injury that radiated into his arm and wrist. He came back in 2026, taking bronze at WTT Star Contender Doha and reaching the WTT Contender Panagyurishte final, where he lost 4-3 to Sweden's Elias Ranefur. In October 2026 he is world No. 21. See the table tennis world ranking.
Playing style
Ovtcharov is a right-handed shakehand attacker. What stands out in his game:
- The squatting serve: he crouches almost to the floor and alternates forehand and backhand serves, fast and full of spin.
- A powerful forehand and a strong backhand, with the attack starting from the serve.
- Quick blocks and flicks, played in one fluid motion.
Compare him with other European greats such as Timo Boll, and read more about playing styles.
Recent results on the tour
| Year | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 9 |
| Total | 13 | 9 |
| L | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-30 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER vs Hugo Calderano BRA 0-3 9-11, 9-11, 4-11 |
| W | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-29 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Xiang Peng CHN vs Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER 2-3 6-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-04 | Men's singles Round of 64 | Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER vs Hugo Calderano BRA 0-3 9-11, 9-11, 8-11 |
| L | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Men's singles Quarterfinals | Zhou Qihao CHN vs Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER 3-2 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-8 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Kawakami Ryuusei JPN vs Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER 1-3 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 7-11 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-18 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Cedric Nuytinck BEL vs Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER 1-3 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 10-12 |
| L | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-17 | Men's doubles Round of 16 | Patrick Franziska / Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER vs Zhou Qihao / Xue Fei CHN 1-3 5-11, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11 |
| L | WTT Contender Panagyurishte 2026 2026-09-13 | Men's singles Final | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER 4-3 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 15-13 |
Source: WTT official results. Updated October 31, 2026. worldtabletennis.com
Frequently asked questions
Who is Dimitrij Ovtcharov?
He is a German player born in Kyiv in 1988, right-handed, shakehand, with six Olympic medals.
How many Olympic medals does Ovtcharov have?
Six: two silvers and four bronzes, between Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020.
Was Ovtcharov ever world No. 1?
Yes, in 2018. In October 2026 he is No. 21.
What is Ovtcharov's famous serve?
The squatting serve, where he crouches almost to the floor and alternates forehand and backhand.