Table tennis at the Olympics: history, events and winners
Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since the 1988 Seoul Games. Paris 2024 had 5 events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's teams, and mixed doubles. China won 37 of the 42 gold medals from 1988 to 2024, and LA 2028 will have 6 events, including a new mixed team event.
In this article
Table tennis joined the Olympics relatively late, but it became one of the most watched sports at the Games, with packed arenas and huge audiences in Asia. Since its debut, the program has changed several times: doubles left, team events arrived, mixed doubles came in and, for Los Angeles 2028, doubles return.
Here is the history of table tennis at the Olympics, the events, the winners and how the competition works.
When did table tennis become an Olympic sport?
Table tennis made its debut at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The ITTF had existed since 1926 and the World Championships had been running for more than 60 years, but the sport only joined the Olympic program in the late 1980s. At the Paralympics, it has been on the program since the first Games, in Rome in 1960.
Olympic table tennis events
| Period | Events |
|---|---|
| 1988 to 2004 | Men's and women's singles and doubles (4 events) |
| 2008 to 2016 | Men's and women's singles and teams (4 events) |
| 2020 and 2024 | Singles, teams and mixed doubles (5 events) |
| 2028 (planned) | Singles, doubles, mixed doubles and mixed team (6 events) |
Men's and women's doubles were replaced by team events at Beijing 2008. Mixed doubles debuted at Tokyo 2020. For Los Angeles 2028, the IOC approved in 2025 a new mixed team event and the return of men's and women's doubles, in place of the single-gender team events.
How the Olympic competition works
- Singles matches are best of 7 games, each to 11 points.
- It is a knockout draw, with seeds based on the world ranking.
- The semifinal losers play a bronze medal match.
- Since London 2012, each country may enter at most two players per singles event. The change followed all-Chinese podiums, such as Beijing 2008, where China swept the men's and women's singles medals.
The rules of play are the same as at any ITTF event. See table tennis rules.
Table tennis Olympics winners list: singles
| Year | Host | Men's singles | Women's singles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Seoul | Yoo Nam-kyu (South Korea) | Chen Jing (China) |
| 1992 | Barcelona | Jan-Ove Waldner (Sweden) | Deng Yaping (China) |
| 1996 | Atlanta | Liu Guoliang (China) | Deng Yaping (China) |
| 2000 | Sydney | Kong Linghui (China) | Wang Nan (China) |
| 2004 | Athens | Ryu Seung-min (South Korea) | Zhang Yining (China) |
| 2008 | Beijing | Ma Lin (China) | Zhang Yining (China) |
| 2012 | London | Zhang Jike (China) | Li Xiaoxia (China) |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Ma Long (China) | Ding Ning (China) |
| 2020 | Tokyo | Ma Long (China) | Chen Meng (China) |
| 2024 | Paris | Fan Zhendong (China) | Chen Meng (China) |
Ma Long is the only man to win two Olympic singles golds. Among women, Deng Yaping, Zhang Yining and Chen Meng have done the same.
Mixed doubles and teams
- Mixed doubles: at Tokyo 2020, Japan's Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito won the first edition, beating the Chinese pair in the final. At Paris 2024, the gold went to Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha of China.
- Teams: China won every men's and women's team event from 2008 to 2024.
China's dominance
From 1988 to 2024, 42 Olympic table tennis events were held, and China won 37 golds. The other five went to South Korea (3), Sweden (1, Waldner) and Japan (1, mixed doubles). The reasons behind that run are in why China dominates table tennis.
Notable moments beyond China
- Jan-Ove Waldner won in 1992, still the only European Olympic singles champion through Paris 2024.
- Ryu Seung-min beat China's Wang Hao in the 2004 final.
- Hugo Calderano of Brazil reached the quarterfinals at Tokyo 2020, a first for a Latin American, and the semifinals at Paris 2024, finishing 4th. More in Hugo Calderano.
- At Paris 2024, Brazil's Bruna Alexandre played the team event and became the first Brazilian athlete to compete at both the Olympics and the Paralympics.
Frequently asked questions
Is ping pong an Olympic sport?
Yes, under the name table tennis. It has been an Olympic sport since the 1988 Seoul Games and a Paralympic sport since 1960.
How many table tennis events are at the Olympics?
Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 had 5: men's singles, women's singles, men's team, women's team and mixed doubles. LA 2028 is planned to have 6.
Which country has the most Olympic table tennis medals?
China, by a wide margin. From 1988 to 2024 it won 37 of the 42 golds on offer.
What changes in table tennis at LA 2028?
A new mixed team event is added, and men's and women's doubles return in place of the single-gender team events, for 6 events in total.
How many games are in an Olympic table tennis match?
Singles matches are best of 7 games, each to 11 points with a 2-point lead.