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Vladimir Samsonov

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Vladimir Samsonov
Uładzimir Samsonaŭ
Samsonov at the 2013 World Championships
Personal information
Full nameVladimir Viktorovich Samsonov; Uładzimir Viktaravich Samsonaŭ
Nationality Belarus
Born (1976-04-17) April 17, 1976 (age 48)[1]
Minsk, Belarus[2]
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Weight83 kg (183 lb)
Table tennis career
Playing styleRight-handed, shakehand grip
Equipment(s)Tibhar: blade – Samsonov Force Pro Black Edition, rubbers – Evolution MX-S
Highest ranking1[4]
Current ranking8 (November 2016)
ClubRoyal Villette Charleroi[2]
Medal record
Men's table tennis
Representing  Belarus
European Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Baku Singles
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1995 Tianjin Doubles
Silver medal – second place 1997 Manchester Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Eindhoven Doubles
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1999 Xiaolan Singles
Gold medal – first place 2001 Courmayeur Singles
Gold medal – first place 2009 Moscow Singles
Silver medal – second place 2013 Verviers Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Nimes Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Nimes Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Liverpool Singles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1996 Bratislava Mixed doubles
Gold medal – first place 1998 Eindhoven Singles
Gold medal – first place 1998 Eindhoven Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2003 Courmayeur Singles
Gold medal – first place 2003 Courmayeur Team
Gold medal – first place 2005 Aarhus Singles
Silver medal – second place 2005 Aarhus Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2007 Belgrade Singles
Silver medal – second place 2008 Saint-Petersburg Singles
Silver medal – second place 2008 Saint-Petersburg Team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Ostrava Team
Silver medal – second place 2013 Schwechat Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Birmingham Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Herning Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Schwechat Team
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Ekaterinburg Team

Vladimir Samsonov (Belarusian: Уладзімір Віктаравіч Самсонаў, born April 17, 1976) is a Belarusian professional table tennis player, ranked 8th in the world as of November 2016.[5][1] He is known in China as the "Tai Chi Master" because of his superb all-around style, both offensive and defensive.[6] Samsonov competed at six consecutive Olympics between 1996 and 2016, placing fourth-fifth individually in 1996, 2000 and 2016.[2]

Career

Samsonov is also known as Mr. ECL (European Champions League) for participating in the tournament for at least 15 years straight and because he currently holds nine ECL winner titles – three with Borussia, five with Charleroi, and two with Fakel Orenburg. He began his European club career when he joined Borussia Düsseldorf in 1994, then seven years later moved to Royal Charleroi in Belgium. In 2008 he moved to Spain to play for Cajagranada, but two years later he moved to the Russian superleague club Fakel Orenburg.

Samsonov is famous for being a top-10 player longer than anyone else in official ranking history save for the legend of table tennis Jan-Ove Waldner. He first joined the top-10 in 1996, then climbed to the top position in 1998. He stayed in the top-10 for 15 years until November 2011. He is ranked #8 as of November 2016.[5] He also currently holds the distinction of being the player with most ITTF ProTour titles (26).

Samsonov was awarded the Richard Bergmann Fair Play Trophy at the world championships a record three times, in 2003, 2007 and 2013.[7]

Personal life

Since the age of seven Samsonov is coached by Andrei Petkevich. Samsonov is married to Natasha, who was born in Yugoslavia and speaks Serbian, Croatian, Russian, English, German and French. They have two sons.[8]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vladimir Samsonov.
  1. ^ a b "ITTF player's profile". International Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Vladimir Samsonov". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  3. ^ Vladimir Samsonov. rio2016.com
  4. ^ "ITTF Museum". International Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  5. ^ a b World ranking Record for SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR). ittf.com
  6. ^ Vladimir Samsonov. nbcolympics.com
  7. ^ Award Winners. ittf.com
  8. ^ ЧЕЛОВЕК ГОДА. Самсонов — рыцарь справедливости. pressball.by (2005-12-30)
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