Ryu Seung-min (Korean: 유승민; Korean pronunciation: [ju.sɯŋ.min]; born August 5, 1982) is a South Korean table tennis player who won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the men's singles competition.^[1][3] His opponent was Wang Hao, a top-seeded player from the Chinese national team. Along the way, he defeated 1992 Olympic champion Jan-Ove Waldner with 4–1. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics he was part of the South Korean team that won the bronze and silver medals respectively.^[4][5] Ryu is ranked twenty-fifth in the world as of July 2013.^[2] In 2016, Ryu became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he was a member and Chair of the Athletes' Commission of the South Korean National Olympic Committee from 2016 to 2019.^[6] Since 2018, he counts among the ITTF Foundation Ambassadors, promoting sport for development and peace.^[7]

Quick Facts Personal information, Nationality ...

Ryu Seung-min
Personal information
Nationality	South Korea
Born	(1982-08-05) 5 August 1982 (age 41)[1] Seoul, South Korea
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Table tennis career
Playing style	Right-handed, Japanese Penhold
Highest ranking	2 (September 2004)[2]
Medal record Men's table tennis Representing  South Korea Olympic Games 2004 Athens Singles 2012 London Team 2008 Beijing Team World Championships 2006 Bremen Team 2008 Guangzhou Team 2001 Osaka Team 2004 Doha Team 2007 Zagreb Singles 2010 Moscow Team 2012 Dortmund Team World Cup 2007 Barcelona Singles 2009 Linz Team 2011 Magdeburg Team Asian Games 2002 Busan Doubles 2002 Busan Team 2002 Busan Mixed Doubles 2006 Doha Team 2006 Doha Singles

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In March 2022, Ryu signed with World Star Entertainment.^[8]

Ryu Seung-min plays penhold style. Unlike players like Ma Lin and Wang Hao, Ryu never uses the backside of his blade – in fact, he does not even have rubber on it. Ryu relies on his outstanding footwork, explosive forehand loops and drives to win points. For some time he used Xiom (South Korea) table paddles and rubbers playing with his signature model "Ryu Seung Min Special" penhold and has been using ProZRSM ever since his victory at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Lately he switched again to Butterfly (Japan) equipment and now he uses their Ryu Seung-min G-Max blade with Tenergy 05.

As of December 1, 2012, he is ranked 20th in the world. His top ranking was world number 2 in September 2004, and since November 2001 he was always in top 25 of the ITTF world ranking list.

Singles (as of April 9, 2015)^[9]

• Olympics: Gold medal (2004).^[3]
• World Championships: SF (2007).
• World Cup appearances: 5. Record: runner-up (2007).
• Pro Tour winner (3): Egypt, USA Open 2004; Chile Open 2008.
  Runner-up (4): Swedish Open 2001; Brazil Open 2002; Japan Open 2005; Slovenian Open 2007; Kuwait Open 2012.
• Pro Tour Grand Finals appearances: 9. Record: SF (2003, 05, 10).
• Asian Games: SF (2006).
• Asian Championships: SF (2003).

Men's doubles

• Olympics: 4th (2000).
• World Championships: QF (2001, 05, 09).
• Pro Tour winner (8): China (Qingdao) Open 2002; Croatian, Egypt, USA Open 2004; Korea Open 2005; Chinese Taipei Open 2006; Kuwait Open 2007; Brazil Open 2012.
  Runner-up (4): China (Changchun) Open 2000; Korea Open 2010; Austrian Open 2010; Japan Open 2012.
• Pro Tour Grand Finals appearances: 4. Record: SF (2012).
• Asian Games: winner (2002).
• Asian Championships: SF (2005).

Mixed doubles

• World Championships: QF (2003).
• Asian Games: runner-up (2002).

Team

• Olympics: 3rd (2008), 2nd (2012).
• World Championships: 2nd (2006, 08); 3rd (2001, 04, 10, 12).
• World Team Cup: 2nd (2009); 3rd (2007).
• Asian Games: 2nd (2002, 06).
• Asian Championships: 2nd (2005).