Richard Bergmann
Encyclopedia
Richard Bergmann was an Austrian and British table tennis
player. Winner of seven World Championships
, including four Singles, one Men's Doubles, two Team's titles and 22 medals in total.
In 1936, he won his first World title as a member of the Austrian Swaythling Cup (Men’s World Championships
) Team. He won his first World Singles Championship one year later, and in doing so became the youngest player ever to win the title.
When the Nazis invaded Austria in 1938, Bergmann fled to England
. In 1939, he represented England and won his second World Singles crown and the World Men's Doubles title, pairing with Viktor Barna
.
The World Championships was canceled from 1940 to 1946. The first World Championships after World War II
was held in Paris, 1947. As a defending Men’s Singles Champion, Bergmann was not allowed to participate because he played exhibitions for money without the required permissions during the war years.
He went to Paris and paraded along the venue with a sign, claiming to be the true World Champion and challenging anyone to a match for £500.
In the following years, he reclaimed his title in 1948 as World Singles Champion, and again in 1950. His last World Championship came as a member of the 1953 English Swaythling Cup Team.
In the mid-1950s, Bergmann became the world’s first professional table tennis player and toured extensively with the Harlem Globetrotters
basketball team.
in 1982., and was later inducted into the International Table Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame in 1993 as one of twelve founding members.
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player. Winner of seven World Championships
World Table Tennis Championships
The World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
, including four Singles, one Men's Doubles, two Team's titles and 22 medals in total.
Tennis career
Bergmann was regarded as the greatest defensive player in table tennis history.In 1936, he won his first World title as a member of the Austrian Swaythling Cup (Men’s World Championships
World Table Tennis Championships
The World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
) Team. He won his first World Singles Championship one year later, and in doing so became the youngest player ever to win the title.
When the Nazis invaded Austria in 1938, Bergmann fled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1939, he represented England and won his second World Singles crown and the World Men's Doubles title, pairing with Viktor Barna
Viktor Barna
Viktor Győző Barna was a Hungarian and British champion table tennis player.-Personal life:...
.
The World Championships was canceled from 1940 to 1946. The first World Championships after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was held in Paris, 1947. As a defending Men’s Singles Champion, Bergmann was not allowed to participate because he played exhibitions for money without the required permissions during the war years.
He went to Paris and paraded along the venue with a sign, claiming to be the true World Champion and challenging anyone to a match for £500.
In the following years, he reclaimed his title in 1948 as World Singles Champion, and again in 1950. His last World Championship came as a member of the 1953 English Swaythling Cup Team.
In the mid-1950s, Bergmann became the world’s first professional table tennis player and toured extensively with the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
basketball team.
Halls of Fame
He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 1982., and was later inducted into the International Table Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame in 1993 as one of twelve founding members.