Timo Boll
Even at the age of 40, Timo Boll is still one of the world's top table tennis players. Since 2002, the Hessian has been consistently in the top 20 of the world rankings. Several times he was at the top of the ranking. For the first time in 2003 as the first German ever and most recently in 2018, when he became the oldest world number one in table tennis history at the age of 37.
But Boll's sporting career is not the only impressive one. He is also involved in charity events and exhibition matches for the "Athletes for Organ Donation" and "Children's Organ Transplant Aid" associations, as well as the "Acción Humana" foundation, which gives street children a home.
By the way, Boll's career is far from over: at the beginning of 2022, he signed a new contract with his club Borussia Düsseldorf, which runs until 2025. At the end of the contract, Boll will be 44 years old.
Timo Boll's career is rich in titles and medals. Highlights were the Olympic medals Boll collected in four different Olympic Games from 2004 to 2021. In 2008 and 2021 he won silver in the team, in 2012 and 2016 bronze. In singles, he won World Championship bronze in 2011 and 2021 and eight European Championship titles. In addition, there are countless national and Grand Slam victories and a total of eight Champions League titles.
China has dominated the world's top table tennis for years. The sport is correspondingly popular in the Middle Kingdom - and so is Timo Boll, the eternal rival of the Chinese top players. In China, he is one of the most popular foreigners of all, and was even voted the world's most attractive athlete there in 2007. When Boll is out in public, he quickly becomes an attraction in China. "If someone recognizes me, massive numbers of people come immediately. It's like with soccer players," says Boll.
Boll's love of table tennis is not the only thing he has in common with China. For years, he competed in doubles together with top Chinese player Ma Long. "They are very open and interested in other cultures," says Boll: "I have many Chinese friends and I have the impression that Germans and Chinese go together quite well."
Timo Boll's style of play is unique. The spin, or the cut, that the German brings to his shots is considered one of the best in the world. With his topspin strokes, Boll favors aggressive attacking play. The left-hander is coached by former top German player Jörg Roßkopf, who once played in the Bundesliga with Boll himself at TTV Gönnern.
As a web coach, Boll also passes on his table tennis skills to recreational and junior players in numerous online sessions and YouTube videos.
Which racket does table tennis star Timo Boll actually rely on? The table tennis brand Butterfly has been his sponsor for decades. For his own racket, Boll relied on the "Timo Boll ALC" blade for a long time. In 2021 he switched to the blade "Primorac Carbon". As rubbers he uses the Butterfly Dignics 09C for both forehand and backhand.
Boll also supports the Caravaning Industrie Verband as a brand ambassador. The insurer ARAG has also been a Boll sponsor since 2006, and the robotics expert KUKA since 2014.
Timo Boll has been married to Rodelia Jacobi since New Year's Eve 2002. Boll has had daughter Zoey Malaya with the Philippine since 2013. Jacobi, like Boll, shies away from making a big public appearance, but is regularly in the audience at his tournament appearances.
| Sport: | Table Tennis |
| Playing hand: | Left-handed |
| Grip: | Shakehand |
| Height: | 1,81 m |
| Nationality: | Germany |
| Birthday: | March 8, 1981 |
| Born in: | Erbach, Germany |
| Hometown: | Höchst, Odenwald |
| First professional season: | 1997 |
| Coach: | Jörg Roßkopf |
| Followers on Instagram: | 110.000 |
| Partner: | Rodelia Jacobi |
