Table Tennis PlayerGermanOlympic MedalistUkrainian

Dimitrij Ovtcharov

Dimitrij Ovtcharov is a German table tennis player, a decorated Olympian with six medals, who achieved World No. 1 ranking and won the 2017 World Cup.

1. Overview

Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Дмитрий ОвчаровDmitry OvtcharovRussian), (Дмитро ОвчаровDmytro OvtcharovUkrainian) is a prominent German professional table tennis player. Born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union in 1988, he is the son of Soviet table tennis champion Mikhail Ovtcharov, and his family relocated to Germany shortly after his birth. Ovtcharov has established himself as one of the most decorated male Olympians in table tennis, having won a total of six Olympic medals, including two silver and four bronze, between 2008 and 2020. He achieved the World No. 1 ranking in January 2018. Throughout his career, Ovtcharov has claimed major titles such as the 2017 Table Tennis World Cup and numerous European Championships, solidifying his status as a top international competitor known for his powerful two-winged attacks and diverse serves. As of February 2025, he is ranked 20th in the world.

Dimitrij Ovtcharov in 2017
Dimitrij Ovtcharov in 2017

2. Early life and background

Dimitrij Ovtcharov was born on September 2, 1988, in Kyiv, then part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union. His father, Mikhail (also known as Mikhaylo) Ovtcharov, was a decorated table tennis player who became a Soviet champion in 1982. Shortly after Dimitrij's birth, his family moved to Germany, where he grew up and developed his table tennis career. He currently resides in Düsseldorf and Hamelin, Germany.

2.1. Childhood and formative years

Ovtcharov was introduced to table tennis at a young age, following in his father's footsteps. His early talent became evident as he began competing in junior championships. In 2002, he achieved a runner-up finish in the boys' singles cadet division at the European Youth Championships held in Moscow. The following year, in 2003, he secured a runner-up position in the boys' doubles cadet division at the same championship in Novi Sad. His junior career saw further success, including a team championship title at the 2004 European Youth Championships in Budapest and another team championship at the 2006 Sarajevo tournament. In 2006, Ovtcharov reached the semi-finals in singles at the World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Cairo, Egypt, and also earned bronze medals in mixed doubles and team events.

3. Career

Dimitrij Ovtcharov's professional table tennis career has been marked by a consistent rise through the ranks, highlighted by significant achievements at both junior and senior levels, including multiple Olympic medals and a period as the world's top-ranked player.

3.1. Junior career

Ovtcharov's junior career laid the foundation for his future success. He first gained international recognition at the 2002 European Youth Championships in Moscow, where he was the runner-up in the Cadet boys' singles. In 2003, at the European Youth Championships in Novi Sad, he also finished as runner-up in the Cadet boys' doubles. He continued to excel in team events, winning the boys' team championship at the European Youth Championships in Budapest in 2004 and again in Sarajevo in 2006. That same year, Ovtcharov reached the semi-finals in singles at the World Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt, also securing bronze medals in mixed doubles and the team event.

3.2. Early senior career and Olympic debut

Ovtcharov transitioned to the senior circuit with his participation in the World Table Tennis Championships starting in 2007. In 2008, he competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he earned a silver medal as part of the German men's team, playing alongside Timo Boll and Christian Süß. During this period, Ovtcharov gained attention for his distinctive serving technique, which was recognized by Time magazine in 2008 as one of the top 50 innovations of the year. He also participated in the Europe Top-12 competition in 2008, finishing fifth.

3.3. Doping controversy and exoneration

On September 22, 2010, Dimitrij Ovtcharov faced a doping accusation when a positive A-sample test for Clenbuterol was reported. Clenbuterol is a substance that can be used for performance enhancement, and is also used as a bronchodilator and stimulant. Ovtcharov vehemently denied the accusation, claiming that the substance might have entered his system through contaminated meat he consumed in China. He requested a B-sample analysis, which also tested positive. Following further investigations and hearings, including a voluntary hair sample provided by Ovtcharov that showed no evidence of clenbuterol or its abuse, the German Table Tennis Federation (DTTB) unanimously decided to retract his suspension on October 15, 2010. This decision was subsequently endorsed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

3.4. Olympic success and rise to prominence (2012-2016)

Ovtcharov continued his impressive Olympic career, winning two bronze medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, one in the men's singles event and another as part of the men's team. In June 2015, he secured a gold medal at the inaugural European Games held in Baku, Azerbaijan. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Ovtcharov reached the singles quarter-finals, where he was defeated by Vladimir Samsonov. He then went on to win another bronze medal with the German men's team, marking his third Olympic medal. During this period, he also achieved significant success at the European Table Tennis Championships, contributing to the German team's six consecutive titles from 2007 to 2013, and winning the singles title for the first time in 2013 in Schwechat. He continued his dominance in European events, securing gold at the Europe Top-16 in Lyon in 2012, Baku in 2015, and Gondomar in 2016.

3.5. World No. 1 and major titles (2017-2020)

The period from 2017 to 2020 marked a significant peak in Ovtcharov's career. In June 2017, he won the China Open title by defeating his national teammate Timo Boll in a close seven-set match. He followed this success with a victory at the Bulgaria Open in August 2017. His most significant achievement during this phase came at the 2017 Table Tennis World Cup in Liège, where he captured his first World Cup title after overcoming top players like Lin Gaoyuan and Timo Boll, who had previously defeated Ma Long.
In January 2018, Ovtcharov reached a career milestone by becoming the World No. 1 table tennis player, a position he held for two months, replacing the long-reigning Ma Long. He continued to perform strongly in team events, earning a silver medal at the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad. Ovtcharov also secured additional Europe Top-16 titles in Antibes in 2017 and Montreux in 2019, while finishing as runner-up in Montreux in 2018. In January 2020, Ovtcharov signed a sponsorship contract with Butterfly, a major table tennis equipment manufacturer.

3.6. Recent activities (2021-present)

In March 2021, Ovtcharov competed in the WTT Doha events, where he won the WTT Contender event and reached the semi-finals of the WTT Star Contender event. Notably, he made key tactical adjustments to defeat Lin Yun-ju, whom he had lost to in their four previous encounters. His performance in Doha led to his re-entry into the top ten of the world rankings. In June 2021, he reached the finals of the European Table Tennis Championships, ultimately losing to Timo Boll. In July 2021, two weeks prior to the Tokyo Olympics, Ovtcharov withdrew from an internal German Olympic scrimmage due to a leg injury.
Despite the injury, Ovtcharov competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in Tokyo, where he secured a bronze medal in the men's singles event. He then advanced to the final of the men's team event, earning a silver medal, which marked his record sixth Olympic medal. In 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ovtcharov announced his departure from his Russian club, Gazprom Fakel Orenburg, by not renewing his contract for the upcoming season, as the club was excluded from the European Champions League.
More recently, he won a bronze medal in men's doubles at the 2023 World Table Tennis Championships in Durban and a gold medal in the men's team event at the 2023 European Games in Kraków-Małopolska. In 2024, he won a singles bronze medal at the European Table Tennis Championships in Linz. As of February 25, 2025, he is ranked 20th in the world.

4. Playing style

Dimitrij Ovtcharov is a right-handed player who utilizes the shakehand grip. His distinctive playing style is characterized by powerful two-winged attacks, particularly his drives, which allow him to compete effectively against top Chinese players. He is well-known for his unique and varied serves, which are delivered with complex motions, often making them difficult for opponents to receive cleanly. Among these, his backhand serve is notably intricate and diverse, posing a significant challenge even for elite players. He also frequently employs a "squat serve," a powerful technique that further diversifies his service game.

In terms of receiving serves, Ovtcharov often uses a very sharp backhand "Tsukki" (push) to initiate rallies. While his forehand receive was once considered a weaker point, he has significantly improved this aspect of his game by incorporating and frequently using the "tabletop backhand drive" and the "Chiquita" (a forehand flick). Furthermore, Ovtcharov excels at counter-attacking from mid-court and deep positions, demonstrating a strong defensive and offensive balance.

5. Equipment

Dimitrij Ovtcharov is a sponsored athlete by Butterfly, a leading manufacturer of table tennis equipment. He uses the Butterfly Ovtcharov Innerforce ALC blade, which is designed to provide a balance of speed and control for his aggressive playing style. For his rubbers, he uses Butterfly Dignics 09C on his forehand and Butterfly Dignics 05 on his backhand. Both Dignics series rubbers are known for their high-level spin and speed capabilities, complementing Ovtcharov's powerful two-winged attacking game.

6. Club career

Throughout his professional career, Dimitrij Ovtcharov has played for several table tennis clubs across Europe:

  • TSV Schwalbe Tündern** (prior to 2007)
  • Borussia Düsseldorf** (2007-2009): One of the most successful clubs in German and European table tennis.
  • Royal Villette Charleroi** (2009-2010)
  • Gazprom Fakel Orenburg** (2010-2022): Based in Russia, Ovtcharov spent a significant part of his career here. He decided to leave the club in April 2022 due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the club was excluded from the European Champions League. During his time at Orenburg, he was teammates with prominent players like Vladimir Samsonov and Jun Mizutani. Ovtcharov and Mizutani, who were also teammates in the Table Tennis Bundesliga, maintained a friendly rivalry on the international stage.
  • TTC Neu-Ulm** (2022-2024)
  • Olympiacos Piraeus** (2023-2024)
  • TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell** (2024-present)

7. Personal life

Dimitrij Ovtcharov married Swedish table tennis player Jenny Mellström in 2013. The couple welcomed their daughter, Emma, in 2016.

8. Career statistics and records

Dimitrij Ovtcharov has accumulated an impressive array of medals and titles throughout his career, cementing his position as one of the sport's most successful players.

CompetitionGoldSilverBronze
Olympic Games024
World Championships041
World Cup104
European Games300
European Championships932
Europe Top-16512



Other notable achievements include:

  • Olympic Games (Singles):** Bronze medal (2012 London, 2020 Tokyo). Reached round of 16 (2008 Beijing), Quarter-Finals (2016 Rio de Janeiro).
  • World Championships (Singles):** Reached round of 16 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2017), round of 64 (2015).
  • ITTF World Tour (Singles):**
    • Winner (9):** 2010 India Open, 2011 Brazil Open, 2011 Korea Open, 2012 German Open, 2014 German Open, 2017 India Open, 2017 China Open, 2017 Bulgaria Open, 2017 German Open.
    • Runner-up (2):** 2009 Danish Open, 2010 Polish Open.
  • ITTF World Tour Grand Finals (Singles):** Runner-up (2014, 2017).
  • European Championships (Singles):** Winner (2013, 2015). Runner-up (2020). Semi-finalist (2007). Bronze (2024 Linz).
  • ITTF World Tour (Doubles):** Winner (1): 2007 Chinese Taipei Open. Quarter-finalist at Pro Tour Grand Finals (2007).
  • World Championships (Mixed Doubles):** Reached round of 64 (2007).
  • Team Events:**
    • Olympic Games:** Silver (2008 Beijing, 2020 Tokyo), Bronze (2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro).
    • World Championships:** Silver (2010 Moscow, 2012 Dortmund, 2014 Tokyo, 2018 Halmstad).
    • World Team Cup:** Bronze (2009 Linz, 2011 Magdeburg).
    • European Championships:** Gold (2007-2011, 2013, 2017, 2019). Silver (2014, 2015).
    • European Games:** 4th (2015).
  • Highest World Ranking:** World No. 1 (January 2018).
  • Current World Ranking:** 20 (as of February 25, 2025).

9. Legacy and influence

Dimitrij Ovtcharov has left a significant mark on the sport of table tennis, particularly as a leading European player who consistently challenged the dominance of Asian players. His powerful two-winged attacking style and unique, varied serves, especially his complex backhand serve and squat serve, have influenced modern table tennis techniques. Ovtcharov's ability to adapt his game, notably by strengthening his tabletop backhand drives and incorporating the "Chiquita" flick, allowed him to overcome previous weaknesses and maintain his position among the world's elite.
As one of the most decorated male Olympians in table tennis history with six medals, Ovtcharov has demonstrated remarkable longevity and consistency at the highest level. His achievements, including reaching the World No. 1 ranking and winning a World Cup title, highlight his standing as a formidable international competitor. Beyond his individual successes, his contributions to the German national team, including multiple Olympic and European team medals, have solidified Germany's position as a top table tennis nation. His influence extends to his club career, where he played alongside and against other top players, fostering competitive excellence. Ovtcharov's career exemplifies dedication, tactical innovation, and persistent performance, making him an important figure in the sport.