Simon Gauzy

How did you start playing table tennis?

It’s quite simple, actually. Originally, I didn’t come from a family of table tennis players, but from a rather large family; I have three brothers and my parents bought a table for the house when we were kids. I started playing like that. At the age of 7, I joined a small country club near our home in the Toulouse region. My father took me there to try it out, and I was immediately hooked. At the time, I was also playing tennis, a sport I was also good at. Then, when I turned 10, my parents asked me to choose between the two sports because it was becoming too complicated to keep up with training for both, and that’s when I chose to stick with table tennis. At 13, I left to train at the INSEP in Paris, where my parents trusted the staff to support me and help me evolve.

What makes table tennis special for you?

What attracted me to table tennis when I was young was the proximity and conviviality with the other children, unlike tennis which is a more individual sport.
Today, I still love this sport just as much because it allows me to learn every day. Table tennis has allowed me to grow, to travel all over the world, and to meet people. It is a technically and tactically complete sport, which makes it fascinating even after 22 years of practice. I am still discovering nuances in the game, like the effects produced by the angle of the racket—where a 1% difference can totally change the shot and the game itself—and I am constantly challenged by players with unpredictable spins.

How would you describe your playing style?

I would say it is spectacular, especially when I am in shape and playing well. My game is explosive, full of variations and changes in trajectory and spin. It’s quite an extravagant style, reflecting my expressive and joyful personality. I like to please the crowd, to have fun, and it shows in the way I play.

The final stretch towards the Olympics.

Participating in the Olympic Games in France is a dream for me. Arriving at the Olympics with a team capable of winning a medal is very exciting and motivating. After our performance in Busan, people know we are a strong team. The goal now is to reach our best level to win a medal during this competition, which I think is entirely achievable.

How do you manage the balance between your professional and personal life?

I knew the year before the Olympics would be one of the most important of my career, and I anticipated this with my partner. The key is maintaining good communication and organization with my loved ones. During tournaments in Asia, I often flew back to see my family, unlike other players who stayed there to avoid the back-and-forth travel.

Which competition has left the greatest impression on you?

It’s hard to choose just one competition as the most significant.

The 2024 World Team Championships in Busan remain an unforgettable experience in terms of results and moments shared. The atmosphere was simply incredible. Even though the 15 days in Korea, with one match per day, were exhausting, playing with much younger teammates like the Lebrun brothers was particularly rewarding.

The Men's World Cup in Liège in 2017 is also a strong memory. The atmosphere was unique and I performed well. Despite finishing fourth, I managed to beat the world number 3 in the quarter-finals and stood my ground against Ma Long, even if I lost in the end. This tournament allowed me to reach my best world ranking, eighth place.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were also memorable, even though they took place without a crowd due to Covid. Despite this absence, the quality of performance was exceptional. The athletes were extremely well prepared and everyone played at an incredible level. For my part, it was during this competition that I played the best table tennis of my career, delivering one of my finest performances on this prestigious world stage.

What do you like to do outside of table tennis?

I don't really have a passion outside of sport. I love watching series and practicing different sports like soccer, basketball, and tennis. I love sharing these sporting moments with my son, just as I did with my father and my brothers when I was a child.

Your brother Paul has been your coach recently; do you have other projects with him in the future?

Yes, because Paul knows me very well as a player and doesn’t hesitate to tell me when I’m not performing up to standard. We are very close, especially over the last 3-4 years, and he is an excellent coach. I appreciate our moments together, sharing this common passion. Since I was 13, with competitions and travel, we haven’t seen each other often, so these shared moments are precious. I think that in the future, participating in other competitions with Paul as a coach by my side will definitely be possible again.