Robert Gardos
-20 
Austria
-20
Austria
Robert Gardos is a professional table tennis player from Austria who has made a name for himself in the international table tennis scene. He is known for his strong and precise play style, as well as his dedication and perseverance on and off the table.
He moved to Austria as a teenager to pursue his table tennis career. He began competing in national and international tournaments and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1998, he won his first international title at the Hungarian Junior Open, and in 2000 he won his first national title in Austria. Gardos has represented Austria in numerous international competitions, including the Olympics, the World Championships, and the European Championships. He has also played professionally for several teams in Europe and Asia, including SVS Niederösterreich in Austria, Borussia Düsseldorf in Germany, and Liaoning in China.
Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Gardos was born on the 16th of January 1979 in Budapest. He moved to Austria to further pursue his table tennis career. After staying there, the Hungary-born table tennis player became an Austrian citizen by naturalization in 1996. He began competing in national and international tournaments and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1998, he won his first international title at the Hungarian Junior Open, and in 2000 he won his first national title in Austria.
Gardos has represented Austria in many international competitions, including the Olympics, the World Championships, and the European Championships. He has also played professionally for several teams in Europe and Asia, including SVS Niederösterreich in Austria, Borussia Düsseldorf in Germany, and Liaoning in China. He plays for the French club Chartres ASTT and has participated in various European tournaments. He has competed in 4 Olympic competitions, most notably the 2008 Beijing. One of Robert's most notable accomplishments came in 2016 when he won a bronze medal in the men's doubles event at the European Championships. He also reached a career-high world ranking of 18 in the same year.
Personal Life
Off the table, Robert loves playing golf, reading, and listening to music. He's also fluent in several languages, including English, German, Hungarian, and Spanish.
Social Media
Robert is quite active on Instagram and Facebook, where he regularly posts about his professional and family life. He has over 2000 followers on both accounts.
Career
Robert found his passion for table tennis at a young age. He grew up in a family of table tennis players, with his father and brother also playing the sport. He began playing table tennis at the age of 6 and quickly showed a natural talent for the game. His father, Gábor Gárdos, was a coach at Budapesti VSC, a club in his hometown where he first picked up the game. In the cadet division in 1993, Gardos won the singles and mixed doubles titles at the European Youth Championships with Mihaela Encea. He moved to Austria when he was 14 but continued representing Hungary until he was 18. Gardos decided to play for Austria in the future after having a disagreement with the Hungarian national team in 1998. Luckily, he had already acquired Austrian citizenship two years prior and was dropped out of the squad and limited to competing in the singles event.
Playing Style
One of the key characteristics of Gardos' playing style is his excellent footwork. He is known for his ability to move quickly around the table, easily covering much ground. This allows him to position himself well for each shot, which helps him hit the ball with greater accuracy and power. He is right-handed and particularly known for backhand shots, which are quick, powerful, and precise.
Achievements
Robert has raked in some medals across various youth and professional levels. His main achievements include winning 6 medals at the European Championships (5 silver and 1 gold medal) at the professional level. He also represented the Austria table tennis team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Single
- Silver Medalist in Men's Singles at the 2006 Chile Open
- Gold Medalist in Cadet Boys' Singles at the1993 European Youth Championships
Men's doubles
- Gold Medalist in Men's Doubles at the 2012 European Championships
- Silver Medalist in Men’s Doubles at the 2013 Czech Open
- Silver Medalist in Men’s Doubles at the 2005 Russia Open
- Silver Medalist in Men’s Doubles at the 2004 Chile Open
- Silver Medalist in Men’s Doubles at the 2000 Zagreb (Croatia) Open
Mixed doubles
- Gold Medalist in Cadet Mixed Doubles at the1993 European Youth Championships
Robert Gardos Equipment
Videos
Final Thoughts
Robert Gardos is a talented and enthusiastic table tennis player who has achieved great success in the sport. Throughout his career, he has shown an ability to adapt to different playing styles and strategies, making him a formidable opponent for any player. His precision and focus on technique have earned him respect and admiration from fans and fellow players alike. His strong work ethic and positive attitude have made him a role model for aspiring table tennis players, and his contributions to the sport, both on and off the table, have helped to promote and grow the game.