Which player became the first table tennis Grand Slam winner?

Jan-Ove Waldner became the first table tennis Grand Slam winner.

The Swedish star completed the sport’s traditional Grand Slam by winning Olympic singles gold, the World Championships singles title, and the World Cup. Waldner won Olympic gold at Barcelona in 1992, the World Championships in 1989, and the World Cup in 1990.

Waldner’s achievement was especially notable because he was the first player outside Asia to win Olympic men’s singles gold. His elegant, adaptable style made him one of the most influential players of the modern era, and he remained internationally competitive across several decades.

A Grand Slam in table tennis is not the same as winning every major event in one calendar year. It refers specifically to completing the three major singles titles: the Olympics, the World Championships, and the World Cup.