Hugo Calderano
Brazil
Brazil
Hugo Calderano is currently the only South American to feature on the ITTF top ten. The Brazilian may even be considered the greatest Americas ping pong player of all time, given he reached a career-high 3rd place rankings. A feat none of the previous male table tennis players have managed to pull off. This article highlights more information about Hugo Calderano’s personal life and career. So, let’s dive right in!
Quick Facts
Biography
Hugo Calderano is a table tennis player born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 22, 1996. There’s little information about the player’s early life, including where he learned to play ping pong and where he went to school.
However, we know that Hugo began playing table tennis at eight. Both his mother and grandfather were physical educators and encouraged him to explore the game. After a few years, the young man was already competing in national tournaments. In fact, he was named the best school athlete at the Brazil Olympic Award in 2009 after playing the game for only four years.
When he relocated to So Caetano in So Paulo in 2010, he made a final investment in his career due to the table tennis evolution. The plan was to train at one of the nation’s facilities for the Olympic games.
During Calderano’s “Paulista” era, he learned a lot of things that made his career skyrocket. He won medals on the World Youth Tour in 2011, competed in the Vivência Olimpica Project in 2012, and made his adult debut in 2013 after winning the Olympic Brazil Award for the best table tennis player.
Career
Hugo Calderano’s career underwent a series of pivotal changes in 2014. He adopted a new playing style to make his games more intense, placing him in a better position on the world map. In 2015, he won gold in both the Singles and Teams competitions during the Pan American Games in Toronto.
Hugo maintained this level of performance in the 2016 Olympics. But sadly, the calliber of opponents he faced was a lot higher; hence the outcome was different. The Brazilian was defeated in the round of 16.
Other Interesting Facts About Hugo Calderano
- Hugo is a vegetarian
- At the age of 4, Hugo learned to read and write on his own, pointing to a genius-level intellect, something that may have come in handy in his table tennis matches.
- Hugo participated in regular volleyball and track and field competitions between 10 and 12.
- He owns more than 70 Rubik’s cubes in various sizes and shapes
- He can solve a Rubik’s cube within nine seconds
Playing Style
Hugo has an extremely aggressive playing style, and given that he likes to stick close to the table, it may be a bit similar to what some of the young players in Asia are using. He favors his backhand, and overall his playing style is relatively similar to Dimitri Ovtcharov’s. Dimitri is a German player who currently ranks 9th in the world.
Both players use a lot of backhand topspin counterattacks and flick attacks. The players also maintain a parallel standing position when playing. This standing position is favorable for players who favor the backhand in their playing style.
Hugo Main Results
Hugo has achieved a lot of things in his career over the years. Here are the major highlights.
2016
- He won a gold medal at the ITTF World Tour Sweden Open
- Won a silver medal at the ITTF World Tour Austria Open
- Ninth place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
- Winner of the ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open U-21
- Singles and team gold medals in Puerto Rico’s Latin American Championships
- He won a gold medal at the Latin American Cup in Guatemala
2017
- Gold medalist at the Pan American Championships in Colombia
- He won a bronze medal for the singles and doubles at the ITTF World Tour Czech Open
- At the ITTF World Tour Hungary Open, he won a silver medal for the doubles.
- Gold medalist for the singles and doubles at the ITTF World Tour Brazil Open
2018
- He won a bronze medal for the singles at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals
- Winner of the Brazilian Championships
- Won the Pan American Cup in Paraguay
- Silver medalists at the Qatar Open on the ITTF World Tour
- He won a bronze medal at the ITTF World Tour Hungary Open
- Bundesliga silver medalist for the 2017–18 season
2019
- Singles bronze medalist at the ITTF World Tour Austrian Open
- Won a bronze medal at the ITTF World Tour Czech Open
- Gold medalist at the Pan American Cup in Puerto Rico
- He won a gold medal at the 2018-19 Pokal Cup at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima
- Bundesliga gold medalist for the 2018-19 season
- Gold medalist at the 2018-19 Pokal Cup
2020
- He won a gold medal at the Pan American Cup in Puerto Rico
- 2019–20 Bundesliga silver medalist
- 2019–20 Pokal Cup silver medalist
2021
- Fifth place in the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships finals
- Winner of the bronze medal in the WTT Cup Finals
- Won the gold medal at the Pan American Championship in Peru
- Winner of the WTT Star Contender Doha gold medal
- 2020-21 Pokal Cup silver medalist
- Tokyo Olympic games 2020 fifth place
2022
- Tunis WTT Contender gold medalist
Net Worth and Income
Hugo Calderano’s salary is not known. However, his net worth is about $1-6 million USD, including his salary and an accumulation of money earned from sponsorships and endorsement deals from various brands, like Tibhar and Xiom. The player also owns several cars and a home.
Social Media
Hugo has social media accounts that he uses to connect with his fans. Some of his social media profiles include:
- Instagram: hugocalderano
- Twitter: @hugocalderano
- Facebook: @HugoCalderano
Hugo Calderano Equipment
Videos
Final Thoughts
Hugo Calderano is one of the greatest table tennis players in history worldwide. If you’ve been wondering about Hugo’s personal life, career journey, and personal achievements, you’ll find all your answers in our article.
FAQs
Who is Hugo Calderano dating?
Rumor has it that Hugo unveiled his girlfriend but did not reveal her name, which makes sense, especially if he’d like to keep his personal life private.
What is Hugo Calderano’s Current ranking?
At the moment, Hugo Calderano is ranked 5th worldwide.
Does Hugo Calderano Have Siblings?
Hugo Calderano’s siblings are not known. The player prefers to keep his personal life private.
Who are Hugo Calderano’s parents?
Hugo’s father is known as Elisa Borges, and his mother is Marcos Marinho Calderano
What rubber does Calderano use?
Hugo Calderano uses one of the best table tennis rubbers, the Target Pro GT rubber.