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Hans Wilhelm Gäb, German Sports Icon and Ethical Advocate, Dies at 89

The former table tennis champion, corporate executive, and organ donation advocate leaves a legacy of integrity, leadership, and reform in sports and society.

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Overview

  • Hans Wilhelm Gäb passed away on April 13, 2025, at the age of 89, as confirmed by the German Table Tennis Federation (DTTB) and Borussia Düsseldorf.
  • Gäb was a prominent figure in German table tennis, serving as DTTB president from 1981 to 1994 and playing a key role in modernizing the sport in Germany.
  • He held senior executive roles in the automotive industry, including at Ford, Opel, and General Motors Europe, where he also pioneered sports sponsorship initiatives.
  • In 2016, Gäb returned his Olympic Order in protest of the IOC's decision to allow Russia to compete in the Rio Olympics despite evidence of state-sponsored doping.
  • After surviving a life-threatening liver transplant, Gäb founded two charities promoting organ donation and supporting transplant patients, further cementing his commitment to societal causes.