The biography of Timo Boll, the German professional table tennis player

The biography of Timo Boll, the German professional table tennis player

Grace Waruguru
updated at November 26, 2023 at 10:17 AM

Timo Boll has attained local and global success as a pro table tennis player. The German national is recognized as one of the best table tennis players ever and started playing before turning five. What is Timo's story? Keep reading to discover the athlete's biography.

Timo Boll
Timo Boll attends a press conference in Hamburg on August 25, 2023. Photo: Morris MacMatzen (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Timo Boll is ranked second in the German Table Tennis National League and has been named World's Number 1 thrice so far. He took his passion for the sport from his father, his first coach. He has represented his country in numerous contests, bagging awards and titles.

Timo Boll's profile summary

Full name

Timo Boll

Age

42 years old (as of 2023)

Nickname

Magic

Date of birth

March 8, 1981

Zodiac sign

Pisces

Nationality

German

Place of birth

Erbach, West Germany

Ethnicity

White

Religion

Christianity

Parents

Wolfgang Boll, Gudrun Ball

Marital status

Married

Partner

Rocelia Jacobi

Children

Zoey Malaya

Height

5 feet, 11 inches

Weight

72kgs

Hair colour

Dark brown

Eye colour

Brown

Profession

Professional table tennis player

Net worth

$7 million

Social media presence

Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook

How old is Timo Boll?

Timo Boll age
Timo Boll competes against Lin Gaoyuan of China during the WTT Cup Finals Xinxiang 2022 at Xinxiang Pingyuan Sports Center on October 27, 2022. Photo: Lintao Zhang (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Timo Boll (aged 42 years old as of November 2023) was born in Erbach, Hessen, West Germany. The table tennis professional's horoscope is Pisces.

What is Timo Boll's nationality?

Boll is a German national. His parents are Wolfgang Boll and Gudrun Ball. Their details are not public. However, according to numerous online sources, his father was Timo's first table tennis coach. The details of his siblings, if any, are also undisclosed.

Education

The World champion pursued primary and high school education. The institutions are not public. He graduated with a high school Level 1 diploma but did not go beyond that level, choosing to pursue his professional career instead.

Career

At eight years old, Timo earned the attention of Helmut Hampel, a Hessian trainer who started training him. He was already a member of TSV Hoscht, a German tennis club. He started competing locally, growing his skill, and gaining visibility among other leagues.

Timo Boll nationality
Timo Boll at a press conference in Hamburg. Photo: Morris MacMatzen (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

At 14, Boll held the title for the youngest player in the league, an accolade he shared with Frank Klitzch. His first international award came in 1995 when he took home three gold medals during the Table Tennis European Youth Championships.

In 2002, 'Magic,' as he is popularly known, became the first German player to win the Europe Top-12 Tournament, where he was also the best German player. The 42-year-old is a household name in the table tennis world. Some of Timo Boll's awards include:

  • He was ranked the best player in the world in 2003, 2011, and 2018.
  • Boll won the 2005 Fair Play Award by ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)
  • Hessen Sportsman of the Year (2006, 2008, 2010)
  • Timo boasts eight European Table Tennis Championship titles ((2009, 2010, 2011, 2018)

Apart from TSV Höchst, which he was part of between 1986 and 1994, Boll played for FTG Frankfurt (1994 to 1995) and TTV Gönnern (1995 to 2007). His longest contract is with Borussia Düsseldorf, which he has been part of since July 2007.

Has Timo Boll won a World Cup?

Timo Boll net worth
Timo Boll competes against Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan during the WTT Cup Finals Xinxiang 2022 at Xinxiang Pingyuan Sports Center on October 28, 2022. Photo: VCG (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Timo's success has seen him traverse borders, participating in international championships. In 2017, he clinched a silver medal after losing to Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the finals. The following year, he won another silver medal after losing to Fan Zhendong. In 2010 and 2014, he won bronze medals.

He has also participated in several Olympic Games, including in 2008, when he finished second and third in 2012. In 2004, back ailments hindered him from effectively preparing for the Olympics. Timo also took part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Timo Boll's net worth

Timo Boll's career, spanning over three decades, has undoubtedly earned him a pretty penny. According to online sources, the table tennis pro is worth $7 million. He has made his money primarily from the sport but has partnered with various brands.

Timo Boll's salary

Boll is one of the highest-paid table tennis players worldwide and the richest in Europe. He reportedly earned $16,000 per match at the 2017 China Super League. He pockets about $35,000 for every season win. From his club, Borussia Düsseldorf, the athlete allegedly earns $00,000. His earnings from bonuses and prize money total about $2 million.

Timo Boll's equipment

Timo Boll awards
Timo Boll during the Men's Team Gold Medal match against China at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on August 6, 2021. Photo: Tom Weller (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Sports equipment brands frequently partner with top athletes in deals that benefit both parties. Timo Boll started working with Butterfly Table Tennis in 1993, and they have worked together throughout his professional career. The Japan-based company deals with apparel and equipment, which Boll uses. Unfortunately, the financial nitty-gritties of Timo Boll's Butterfly deal are undisclosed.

Marriage

The details of Timo Boll's family have been kept under wraps. He married his girlfriend Rodeila Jacobi in December 2002, and they have one daughter, Zoey Malaya, born in December 2013. Despite Tim's career, the couple lives a private life away from the limelight.

Is Timo Boll retired?

Timo Boll is actively playing for Borussia Düsseldorf (as of November 2023). The 42-year-old has been cited saying that he is afraid of retirement. He loves the sport but hates to imagine what its end will look like. In the meantime, Boll continues to thrive on the court as he keeps building his portfolio.

Timo Boll is a left-handed player, a rare trait that could be the secret to his prowess in the sport. He is among the best in his generation, teaching upcoming athletes the value of focus, consistency, and pursuing your passion from an early age.

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Jessica Pegula, an American player and heir of the Pegula family fortune, ranks top of the list with a net worth of $6.7 billion. Ion Triac, a Romanian former professional tennis and ice hockey player, follows her. Check out the article above for the listicle of the wealthiest tennis players globally.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.