Hugo Hoyama: Brazil's Pan American Games record holder
Hugo Hoyama is a retired Brazilian table tennis player born in São Bernardo do Campo in 1969. He played six Olympics in a row, from Barcelona 1992 to London 2012, and won 15 Pan American Games medals, 10 of them gold. After his playing career he coached Brazil's women's team at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
In this article
Before Hugo Calderano, Brazil's big table tennis Hugo was Hugo Hoyama. For more than two decades he was the face of the sport in his country: six Olympics, a pile of Pan American Games medals and a kind of longevity that is rare in any sport.
This page sums up Hugo Hoyama's titles, his medals, the Olympics he played and what he did after he stopped competing.
Who is Hugo Hoyama
Hugo Hoyama was born on May 9, 1969, in São Bernardo do Campo, an industrial city next to São Paulo. It was one of the main table tennis training centers in Brazil, and there he shared practice halls and the national team with Claudio Kano, his doubles partner for many years.
As a teenager, in 1985, he spent nine months training in Japan at Nihon University. He later played club leagues in Europe, for teams in Sweden and Belgium such as Sweden's Falkenberg. That was (and still is) the usual route for South American players who want to face strong opponents every week.
His Pan American Games titles
Hoyama played seven Pan Am Games, from 1987 to 2011, and won a medal at every one. That adds up to 15 medals: 10 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze, the Brazilian record in the sport.
| Games | Results |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis 1987 | Team gold, doubles silver |
| Havana 1991 | Gold in singles, doubles and team |
| Mar del Plata 1995 | Gold in singles, doubles and team, mixed doubles bronze |
| Winnipeg 1999 | Team bronze |
| Santo Domingo 2003 | Doubles gold, singles bronze |
| Rio de Janeiro 2007 | Team gold, singles bronze |
| Guadalajara 2011 | Team gold |
In 1991 and 1995 he swept the Pan Am "triple": singles, doubles and team at the same Games. Both doubles golds came with Claudio Kano. More on the event in table tennis at the Pan American Games.
Six Olympics in a row
Hoyama played six straight Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
His best result came in Atlanta 1996. He beat Sweden's Jörgen Persson, a former world champion, and reached the singles round of 16, where he lost to Petr Korbel of the Czech Republic. It stayed Brazil's best Olympic table tennis result until Tokyo 2020, when Hugo Calderano made the quarterfinals.
Playing six Olympics in a sport this fast takes real staying power. Hoyama stayed competitive for over 20 years while the game kept changing around him: a bigger ball, games to 11 points and the end of speed glue.
Playing style
Hoyama built his career on consistency, smart reading of the game and experience in tight points. He was a technical, controlled player who could change the pace and find an opponent's weak spot, which counted for a lot in team events. The main player types are explained in table tennis playing styles.
Coach and ambassador
After his playing days, Hoyama became head coach of Brazil's women's team. He led the squad at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, for a total of eight Olympics: six as a player and two as a coach. In late 2021 he stepped down after eight years in the role and became an ambassador for Brazilian table tennis, helping to promote the sport.
Hugo Hoyama vs Hugo Calderano
People often mix up the two Hugos. They belong to different generations: Hoyama ruled the Americas in the 1990s and 2000s, while Hugo Calderano, born in 1996, took Brazil to the top of the world game. Calderano beat Hoyama's best Olympic result, but six Olympics and ten Pan Am golds are still the benchmark. To see both alongside other names, check Brazilian table tennis players to know.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Hugo Hoyama?
A retired Brazilian table tennis player born in São Bernardo do Campo in 1969. He played six Olympics, from 1992 to 2012, and has more Pan American Games table tennis golds than any other Brazilian.
How many Pan Am Games medals did Hugo Hoyama win?
Fifteen medals across seven Games from 1987 to 2011: 10 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze.
What was Hugo Hoyama's best Olympic result?
The singles round of 16 at Atlanta 1996, after beating Sweden's Jörgen Persson. It was Brazil's best Olympic table tennis result until Tokyo 2020.
Does Hugo Hoyama still play?
Not at elite level. After London 2012 he coached Brazil's women's team until 2021 and then became an ambassador for the sport in Brazil.
Are Hugo Hoyama and Hugo Calderano related?
No. They are players from different generations who just share a first name. Hoyama was born in 1969 near São Paulo and Calderano in 1996 in Rio de Janeiro.