Timo Boll, a four-time Olympic medalist, played his final international match in the same manner that has defined his 30-year career: calm, composed, and fighting until the very end. His German team was defeated 3-0 by Sweden in the men’s quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, marking the end of an era for the legendary table tennis player.
Boll, 43, had hoped for a different ending in his seventh Olympics, but joked that he was glad it was his friend Anton Kallberg who brought his international career to a close with a 3-1 victory. “Maybe we can talk about it when we see each other in our league next week,” Boll said, hinting at his continued involvement in the sport at the club level. He will play one more season for Borussia Duesseldorf before his contract ends.
Despite the loss, Boll fought valiantly, taking the third game from Kallberg and pushing him to 8-8 in the fourth before ultimately falling short.
“It makes me very sad. We are very good friends with each other and long time playing together in the same team. So he obviously meant a lot for table tennis in the whole world. We are losing a legend, but he is not going to be forgotten,” Kallberg said.
His teammate and former rival Dimitrij Ovtcharov praised Boll’s ability to handle both wins and losses with grace. “I’ve rarely met athletes who can so quickly process a loss or a win and then return to normal life. Timo is not only a great table tennis player but also a very good person,” Ovtcharov said.
Boll’s Olympic journey began in Sydney in 2000, where he went on to win silver in the team event at Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020, along with bronze medals in London 2012 and Rio 2016. His best Olympic singles performance came in Athens in 2004 when he reached the quarterfinals.
On Tuesday, he received a standing ovation from the crowd, which included NBA great Dirk Nowitzki, as he stepped off the court for the final time. For over two decades, Boll remained among the world’s elite players.
“I’m able to be resilient against everything, against the changes we had in the past. But finally, you feel that your body is slow and it’s getting harder and harder to keep the level so high. So I think it was the right moment,” said Boll, who plans to dedicate more time to his family in his post-competition life.
Boll’s departure marks the end of an era in table tennis, leaving a void that will be difficult to fill. His legacy, however, will live on through his exceptional talent, his unwavering sportsmanship, and the countless young players he inspired over his illustrious career.
