Hugo Calderano: "You need to be very smart" in Olympic medal chase
Can Brazil achieve its first Olympic medal in table tennis this year?
Hugo Calderano wants to be the man to deliver that, but knows the magnitude of the task facing him.
Paddlers from People's Republic of China dominate the sport, and Sweden's Jan-Ove Waldner in 1992 remains the only non-Asian to win an Olympic gold medal in any table tennis event.
"That's the goal of most of the top players, to beat the Chinese guys," the world number eight tells Olympics.com and World Table Tennis. A recent victory over world number two Fan Zhendong, however, has given him an extra spark.
"I think it shows me and maybe also everyone [that] a couple of players can beat the Chinese players. It's always good to see that, maybe we might get a little bit closer, and maybe we have some chance in the Olympics to beat the Chinese guys."
Calderano 'being smart' in Olympic preparation
But the Olympic year brings with it other complications, such as worrying about rankings to obtain a good seeding for the draw, while also trying not to over-exert before such an important summer.
"I'm aware of everything that happens. I like to calculate and know everything about the rankings, but it doesn't affect the way I play," Calderano says. "Our schedule is really full.
"We have many tournaments to fight for ranking points and to be in a good rhythm before the Olympics.
"It's really important trying to balance all that and not only not getting tired but also not getting injured and also preparing yourself, the best you can to, to commit to arrive in Paris at the, at a top shape, which is harder to do if you're always playing events.
"You need to be very smart there and have a great preparation."
Staying consistent for Calderano's third Olympic Games
Paris 2024 would be Calderano's third Olympic Games at just 28 – he's not even 28 until next month – with the Brazilian having made his Olympic debut on home soil at Rio 2016.
"I was really young, around 50th in the world, it was in my hometown, I think I performed great," he remembers. "I reached the round of 16, beating two stronger opponents, but of course it's hard to dream about a medal when you are number 50 in the world."
Forward five years to 2021, and Calderano was now considered a player with a hope of a medal, being the fourth seed at the tournament. But he under-performed and was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
"In Tokyo I had some chances to maybe fight for a medal. I think I was one of the top contenders, but it didn't happen. Unfortunately it didn't go my way."
So what has changed in the three years since the Tokyo 2020 Games? "I'm much, much better in every aspect of the game," Calderano emphasises. "I'm stronger physically, stronger technically, I'm of course more experienced. And I'll be more prepared, also mentally, to fight for a medal in Paris."
In the last two seasons, Calderano has seen his form take on a 'feast or famine' tint: either deep runs to finals, or early exits.
"I wasn't able to to be as regular as I once was in the past, but at the same time, I got some even better results with many titles and many good results as well," he notes.
"I think the circuit now is very demanding. There are more strong players, and the different conditions every time is of course hard for the players. I mean, it's no excuse, it's the same for everyone, but I think, it affects the players a little bit."
Calderano also admits that the focus on trying to gain ranking points to earn a particular seeding has played a part. "The ranking system benefits the players who have great results, who win maybe one or two events or reach a semi-final at the Grand Smash.
"So maybe in a way, in my mindset, I knew it was more important to win titles. I don't know, maybe it affected me in some way, or maybe not."
Hugo Calderano already planning ahead
Table tennis has famously produced a number of athletes who have played at seven different Olympic Games, known as the "Seven Club": Jörgen Persson, Zoran Primorac, Jean-Michel Saive, Segun Toriola, and Olufunke Oshonaike.
While Calderano doesn't quite have his eyes set that far into the future right now, he is happy to look forward to at least two more: Paris and LA 28.
"After Paris, I'll still be 28 so I think I'm still quite young for an athlete," he smiles. "I think I can play for many years especially if I have the right mindset and if I take care of my body, and I'm planning on doing that."
As he has stated publicly many times before and is willing to do so again, one thing will keep Calderano going, regardless of whatever happens in Paris.
"I just want to keep building on my career, keep trying to bring especially Brazilian people and also people from my from my continent some happiness and some great results," he says.
"I'll keep pushing. Of course it would be better with an Olympic medal, but even if it doesn't go my way, I'll try again next cycle and do it all over again."
Hugo CALDERANO