Jean-Michel Saive

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Jean-Michel Saive (born November 17, 1969 in Liège, Belgium) is a Belgian professional table tennis player. Born in a table tennis playing family, Saive was predestined to become a very good table tennis player and began playing as a small boy. His father was the tenth ranking Belgian player and his mother won the Belgian ladies' doubles championships when she was pregnant with him.

At the age of thirtheen Saive was the fourth ranking Belgian player and joined the national team. In 1985 he was ranked best player in Belgium, a place which he has kept until today (2006) without interruption. In 1994 he made it to world number one for 515 days (from 9 February 1994 to 8 June 1995 and from 26 March 1996 to 24 April 1996).

Jean-Michel Saive has won a total of 130 medals (51 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze) in international singles tournaments. Some of his important titles are:

• A European Championship (1994) in Birmingham (United Kingdom)
  
• A Europe "Top 12" (1994) in Arezzo (Italy)
  
• Two European leagues with Belgium (1994 et 1995)
  
• Six European Championship Club Cups with his Club "La Villette Charleroi" (1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003 et 2004)
  
• Fifteen Belgian Championships
  
• A victory at the World Pro Tour in 2001
  
• Two victories at the "Qatar Open" (1996 and 2002)
  

He was also individual world vice champion in 1993, finalist at the World Cup in 1994 and 2003 and he was finalist at the world championship for teams with Belgium in 2001.

He participated to five consecutive Summer Olympic Games, from 1988, when table tennis became an official olympic sport in Seoul, to 2004 in Athens. At the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 1996 and 2004 he was the flag bearer of the Belgian team. His successes made him the best Belgian table tennis player and he is also one of the best sportsmen of Belgium. He was elected Sports Personality of the Year 1991 and 1994. Jean-Michel Saive is known for his victories but also for his sportsmanship. He was awarded the UNESCO World Award of Fair Play in 1989.

His younger brother Philippe Saive is also a table tennis player, albeit less successful.

[edit] External link

• Biography on Belgium's federal portal

Preceded by Rudy Dhaenens	Belgian Sportsman of the Year 1991	Succeeded by Georges Jobé
Preceded by Vincent Rousseau	Belgian Sportsman of the Year 1994	Succeeded by Fred Deburghgraeve