Table tennis at the Pan American Games
Table tennis has been part of the Pan American Games since 1979 in San Juan. There are now seven events: men's and women's singles, doubles and team, plus mixed doubles. The United States has won the most golds, ahead of Brazil, whose Hugo Hoyama (10 golds) and Hugo Calderano (three straight singles titles) are the event's biggest names.
In this article
For players in the Americas, the Pan American Games are the biggest multi-sport stage outside the Olympics. Table tennis has been on the program for more than four decades, and the medal table tells the story of a long US vs Brazil rivalry, with Canada, Puerto Rico and Cuba in the mix.
This guide covers the history of table tennis at the Pan Am Games, the events and who has won most.
When did table tennis join the Pan Am Games?
Table tennis entered the Pan American Games in 1979 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has been at every edition since. The Games are held every four years, usually the year before the Olympics.
The number of events has changed. There were seven from 1979 to 1995, then the program was cut to four from 1999 to 2015. Since Lima 2019 there are seven again:
| Men | Women | Mixed |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | Singles | Mixed doubles |
| Doubles | Doubles | |
| Team | Team |
The all-time medal table
Through Santiago 2023, the United States led the table tennis gold count, followed by Brazil:
| Country | Golds | Total medals |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 25 | 55 |
| Brazil | 18 | 50 |
| Canada | 8 | 44 |
| Puerto Rico | 4 | 11 |
| Cuba | 3 | 23 |
Team USA at Santiago 2023
The US had a strong 2023 Games in Santiago, Chile:
| Event | US result |
|---|---|
| Women's team | Gold: Lily Zhang, Amy Wang and Rachel Sung |
| Women's doubles | Gold: Amy Wang and Rachel Sung |
| Women's singles | Bronze: Lily Zhang |
| Men's team | Bronze: Jishan Liang, Nandan Naresh and Siddhartha Naresh |
Lily Zhang, a multiple-time Olympian, is profiled in Lily Zhang.
The other Santiago 2023 champions
| Event | Gold |
|---|---|
| Men's singles | Hugo Calderano (Brazil) |
| Women's singles | Adriana Díaz (Puerto Rico) |
| Men's doubles | Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira (Cuba) |
| Men's team | Brazil |
| Mixed doubles | Daniela Fonseca and Jorge Campos (Cuba) |
The record holders: Hoyama and Calderano
No player has done more at the Pan Am Games than Brazil's Hugo Hoyama. He won his first medal at Indianapolis 1987 and kept going until Guadalajara 2011, finishing with 10 golds and 15 medals across singles, doubles and team events.
Hugo Calderano then took over men's singles, winning at Toronto 2015, Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023. In Santiago he beat Cuba's Andy Pereira 4-0 in the final. His career is in Hugo Calderano, and more names from the region are in Brazilian table tennis players.
Does the Pan Am Games give Olympic spots?
It can. At Santiago 2023, the singles champions earned places at Paris 2024. The Olympic qualification system changes every cycle, and the ITTF decides which continental events award spots. For the LA 2028 cycle, the rules are published by the ITTF and the IOC.
Pan Am Games vs Pan American Championships
They are easy to mix up:
- Pan American Games: a multi-sport event every four years. The next edition is in Lima, Peru, in 2027.
- Pan American Table Tennis Championships: a table tennis-only event run by the continental federation, held more often.
- Pan American Cup: a singles event that awards spots in the ITTF World Cup.
Frequently asked questions
When was table tennis added to the Pan American Games?
At the 1979 Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
How many table tennis events are at the Pan Am Games?
Seven: men's and women's singles, doubles and team, plus mixed doubles.
Which country has the most Pan Am table tennis medals?
The United States, with 25 golds and 55 medals through 2023. Brazil is second with 18 golds and 50 medals.
Who won Pan Am table tennis gold in 2023?
Hugo Calderano won men's singles and Adriana Díaz women's singles. The US won the women's team and women's doubles golds.
Where are the next Pan American Games?
In Lima, Peru, in 2027.