In the heart of the Paris Olympics, a name has emerged as a beacon of hope for the German women’s table tennis team: 18-year-old Annett Kaufmann. Originally a reserve player, Kaufmann has stepped into the spotlight, showcasing exceptional talent and composure that have propelled her team to the semifinals.
Germany’s head coach, Tamara Boros, vividly recalls her first encounter with Kaufmann. The moment came during the 2018 European Youth Championship when a 12-year-old Kaufmann faced a tough loss against Emilija Riliskyte. Despite her youth, Kaufmann approached Boros during a break, meticulously breaking down her mistakes and strategising for improvement. Boros, a former world-class player herself, was impressed. “I just listened and at the end said: exactly right,” Boros shared. Praise from Boros, who once ranked as the best non-Chinese player globally, isn’t easy to earn.
Kaufmann’s ability to analyse the game was evident even then, and it remains one of her greatest strengths today. Her creativity, fierce determination, and exceptional backhand have made her a formidable opponent. Interestingly, Kaufmann began playing table tennis right-handed but was encouraged by her coach to train as a left-hander, a decision that has clearly paid off. In Paris, she has already shown her prowess by defeating experienced players like Rachel Sung, Lily Zhang, Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, and Japan’s Miwa Harimoto.
Kaufmann’s journey to the top has been nothing short of meteoric. She first played in the Bundesliga for SV Böblingen at the age of 13, remaining loyal to the club until its withdrawal from the women’s first league at the end of last season. From this season onwards, she will play for SV-DJK Kolbermoor in the Upper Bavarian district of Rosenheim. At 14, she won the European ranking list in her age group, and at 15, she became the youngest-ever U21 European champion. Today, she holds continental junior titles in every category, with individual victories at U15, U19, and U21 levels.
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Just months ago, Kaufmann was focused on a challenge familiar to many 18-year-olds: her A-level exams. Despite the demands of her studies, her dedication to table tennis never wavered. “My last tournament was the World Championships in Busan, and then in mid-June, I had the German national senior championships, but otherwise, I had no tournaments at all. I had my exams in April and May, then I had a little break for preparation before the German national championships. The next week after, from Monday until Friday, I had all my oral exams,” Kaufmann explained. Her ability to balance academics and sport has proven to be a winning formula. Notably, she is the current German national champion, a title she earned through sheer determination and talent.
Kaufmann’s selection as a reserve player for the German team at Paris 2024, following injuries to key team members, was a recognition of her potential. Yet, few could have predicted the impact she would have on the tournament. A beneficiary of the ITTF Development’s With Future in Mind scholarship program, Kaufmann has seized the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage, demonstrating that her success is no accident.
“Before we came here, our No.1 was injured so, of course, we were already a little bit down. Then, when we came here, our No.2 also got injured, so it wasn’t really easy for us to be mentally good again, and to fight even though we don’t have the two best players on our team. But that makes me even more proud of us that we could manage to win. I think if someone told me before these games, ‘You will be in the semifinal’, I would have signed up directly (immediately).”
Kaufmann’s rise in the sport has been swift. At 13, she made her Bundesliga debut, and by 15, she had become the youngest-ever U21 European champion. Her first international women’s match took place in September 2021 during the European Team Championships in Cluj, where, despite her nerves, she won 3-0 against Slovakia’s Ema Labosova. Her achievements didn’t stop there. At the 2022 European Championships on home soil in Munich, she secured two qualifying wins. Later, she contributed to the German team’s bronze medal at the World Team Championships in Chengdu, although she didn’t compete directly. In 2023, she was part of the gold-winning team at the European Team Championships in Malmö and reached the last 16 in doubles at the World Individual Championships in Durban, South Africa, alongside Sabine Winter. This year, at the World Team Championships in Korea, she again helped her team reach the quarter-finals, before being crowned the German singles national champion in June 2024.
Her next big coup came in January 2024 when she defeated world number 18, Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei, to reach the quarter-finals at the WTT Contender in Doha—an achievement she describes as one of her best matches ever. Her success in women’s tournaments has slightly reduced her participation in youth events, but she still managed to win her first U19 World Championships medal in singles with bronze at the 2023 World Youth Championships in Nova Gorica, along with silver in doubles and mixed.
Kaufmann’s journey in table tennis began at the age of four at TTC Bietigheim-Bissingen, inspired by her older sister Alexandra’s success in the sport. Alexandra, a former junior squad player herself, has continued to support Annett as a coach and mentor, playing a crucial role in her development. Her parents, both former competitive athletes, have also been integral to her career. Her mother, a successful ski racer, and her father, a professional ice hockey player, provided a strong foundation of discipline and support. “The support I get from my parents and my sister gives me strength, and I don’t take it for granted.
With her A-levels now behind her, Kaufmann is contemplating her future. While her focus remains on table tennis, she’s also considering other paths, such as criminology or forensics, should she ever feel the need for a new challenge.
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A true product of the social media age, Kaufmann has cultivated a strong online presence, sharing her journey on Instagram with humour and authenticity. As a dedicated Swiftie, she knows all the lyrics to Taylor Swift’s songs and even attended a concert in Munich just before the Olympics. Kaufmann finds joy in the simple things. Exploring the Olympic Village with her friend Hana Goda and interacting with athletes from other sports has been a highlight of her Parisian experience. Though she hasn’t yet scored a celebrity selfie (Alcaraz and Nadal remain elusive targets!), Kaufmann is simply thrilled to be surrounded by such talent. These glimpses into her life off the table make her even more relatable to fans.
“I love spending time with my friends, they are really supportive. They, together with my family are the most important people to me. They watch every single game, and even though they may be at work or busy, they always try to catch my matches sneakily.”
After her stunning performances in Paris 2024, she was asked if she sees herself as the next Timo Boll, Kaufmann humbly responds, “I think that’s too much. Timo is a legend. I want to go my own way first and see where it leads.” And wherever that path may take her, she’ll likely be accompanied by her cat, Timon (nicknamed “Timosha”), who’s waiting for her back home in Bietigheim-Bissingen. As Annett Kaufmann continues to make her mark on the world stage, the table tennis world eagerly watches to see what this talented, determined, and charismatic young player will achieve next.
Kaufmann knows why she loves her sport so much. “Table tennis is fun, and no matter how old you are: it’s always exciting. There’s always something new happening, and it never gets boring. Many factors come into play, such as speed, reaction, and coordination. Bringing it all together is just cool.”
