Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Sorin Petroj
Vladimir Samsonov is a professional table tennis player from Belarus who is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of table tennis. He has had a remarkable career that has spanned more than three decades.
Samsonov has won numerous titles and accolades along the way and achieved incredible success throughout his career, both on the international stage and domestically.
From his humble beginnings to his numerous achievements, we will explore the life and career of this legendary athlete, and discover what makes him such a force to be reckoned with in the world of table tennis.
VIEW MORE DETAILS ABOUT SAMSONOV ON WIKIPEDIA
With over 30 years of experience in the game, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest table tennis players of all time.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Samsonov’s successes on ITTF, his career, and the table tennis equipment he used.
Vladimir Samsonov Table Tennis Player Profile
- Full Name: Vladimir Viktorovich Samsonov
- Nickname: Uładzimir Viktaravich Samsonaŭ nickname
- Nationality: Belarusian
- Year of birth: 1976
- Date of birth: 17 April 1976
- Place of Birth: Minsk (Belarus)
- March (2021) ranking: 27
- Highest ITTF ranking: 1st place
- Playing style: Righthanded, shakehand grip
- Height: 189 cm
- Weight: 83 kg
- Equipment: Blade: SAMSONOV FORCE PRO BLACK EDITION and Tibhar Samsonov alpha blade
- Rubbers: TIBHAR Evolution MXS and MXP.
Vladimir Samsonov Successes
As a professional table tennis player, he has won a total of 27 ITTF Pro Tour singles titles, including four ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals titles. Samsonov has also won several team and doubles titles, mixed doubles including a gold medal in the team event at the European Championships in 1998, 2003, 2005, and 2013.
Perhaps one of Samsonov’s most impressive accomplishments is his longevity in the sport. He has consistently been ranked among the top table tennis players in the world since the mid-1990s. Vladimir Samsonov continues to compete at a high-level today, well into his 40s.
Vladimir Samsonov is a name that echoes through the halls of table tennis greatness. The Belarusian table tennis player has had an illustrious career, marked by several accomplishments and accolades. He has won three medals at the World Championships, one bronze, and two silvers. But that’s not all; he has also been a consistent performer at the Olympics.
He has competed in six Olympics and has come tantalizingly close to achieving his dream, which is to win a medal. His rankings at the Olympics have been impressive, with three 5th-place finishes and a 4th-place finish.
In total, Samsonov has competed in six Olympics, a feat that is nothing short of remarkable. His most recent opportunity came at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he placed 4th.
Samsonov Ultimate Goal
Although he fell short of his ultimate goal – to become a world champion, the fact that he was able to perform at the highest level for so long is a testament to his skill and dedication. What is even more impressive is that Vladimir Samsonov rose to the rank of #1 in the world in 1998 and remained in the top 10 for an astonishing 15 years!
This is a feat that is almost unheard of in the world of table tennis. It speaks to his skill, his hard work, and his unwavering commitment to the sport he loves. Samsonov is a true role model for aspiring table tennis players around the world.
His superb all-around style brought his team to European Champions League winners in the 2011/2012 season. He has shown that with hard work, dedication, and a never-say-die attitude, anything is possible.
Career:
Vladimir Samsonov was born in Minsk, Belarus, in 1976. He began playing table tennis at the age of six and quickly showed promise as a young player. In 1990, at the age of just 14, Samsonov won his first national championship in Belarus.
Samsonov is known as the “Tai Chi Master” and made his international debut in 1992, competing at the World Junior Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. He quickly established himself as a rising star in the sport, winning the European Junior Championships in 1994.
In 1995, at the age of 19, Vladimir Samsonov won his first major international title, the European Championships gold medal in Basel, Switzerland. This marked the beginning of an incredibly successful career that has spanned more than three decades.
Over the years, this professional table tennis player has continued to achieve success on the international stage and improve his world rankings.
He has competed in seven Olympic Games, reaching the quarterfinals in both the singles and team events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Vladimir Samsonov competed and has also won numerous other titles, including the World Cup, the World Team Cup, and the European Top-12 Championships.
Vladimir Samsonov Equipment
Like most professional table tennis players, Vladimir Samsonov uses a combination of rubber and blades to customize his equipment to his playing style. Throughout his career, Samsonov has been known to use several different rubbers and blades. His favorite ping pong blade was the Tibhar Samsonov Alpha Blade as a professional player.
Samsonov is known for his smooth and controlled playing style, and he typically uses a combination of a spinny, tacky rubber on his forehand side and a more controlled rubber on his backhand side. He has been known to use rubbers from a variety of manufacturers, including Butterfly, Yasaka, and Donic.
CHECK THE CURRENT TIBHAR OFFERS!
When he played for borussia düsseldorf Samsonov competed against top level players like Timo Boll, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Kristian Karlsson, Ruwen Filus, and more.
In terms of his blade, Samsonov has used several different models over the years. One of his most popular blades is the Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit, which is known for its speed, control, and feel. Samsonov has also used blades from other manufacturers, including Donic and Yasaka.
Vladimir Samsonov Clubs & Retirement
Here is a list of table tennis clubs in Europe where Vladimir Samsonov, has played, along with the years he played for each club:
- TTC Kaiserslautern (Germany) Years: 1991-1992
- Borussia Düsseldorf (Germany) Years: 1992-1997, 2001-2017
- Royal Charleroi Villette (Belgium) Years: 1997-2001
- Hennebont TT (France) Years: 2017-2018
- UMMC (Russia) Years: 2018-2019
- Borussia Düsseldorf (Germany) Years: 2019-2021
It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to one of the greatest table tennis players of all time, Vladimir Samsonov.
Despite qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, his seventh time qualifying for the Olympics, Samsonov withdrew from the tournament and shortly after announced his retirement.
This news came as a shock to the table tennis community, as Samsonov (Tai Chi Master) has been a force to be reckoned with for decades.
Conclusion
Vladimir Samsonov is a true legend of the sport of table tennis. He has achieved incredible success throughout his career, including numerous international titles and accolades. Samsonov’s longevity in the sport is a testament to his skill, dedication, and passion for table tennis. He continues to compete at a high-level today, inspiring a new generation of table tennis players around the world.