Felix Lebrun is the breakthrough star of European table tennis. Born in 2006, the French teenager reached the world’s top 5 by age 18, won the European Championship at 17, and claimed a WTT Champions title in front of a home crowd at Montpellier. Along with his older brother Alexis, Felix has made France the most dangerous challenger to Asian dominance in men’s table tennis.
Nef Sandu Daniel – CC CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Quick Facts: Felix Lebrun
Category
Detail
Full Name
Felix Lebrun
Nationality
French
Date of Birth
September 12, 2006
Age (2026)
19
Height
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Hand
Right
Grip
Standard shakehand
World Ranking (2026)
Top 6
Career-High Ranking
Top 5 (2024)
European Championships
Gold (2024)
WTT Champions Titles
Montpellier 2024
World Team Medals
Bronze (2024)
Early Life
Felix and his older brother Alexis grew up in Nimes, France, in a family obsessed with table tennis. Their father Stephane is a coach, their mother is an international-level player, and an uncle also competed at a high level. Felix started competing in junior tournaments at age seven and dominated French youth categories. He turned professional early, and by 2022, at just 15, he was already beating senior players on the international circuit.
Career Highlights and Timeline
Year
Milestone
2021
European Youth Championships gold
2022
First senior ITTF/WTT wins at age 15
2023
World Championship debut; first top-20 ranking
2024
WTT Champions Montpellier title at 18; European Championship gold; World Team Championship bronze; Olympic bronze in men’s singles at Paris 2024
Confirmed top-tier contender entering his physical prime
Playing Style
Lebrun plays a modern two-winged attack game with a slight classical flavor. His forehand is heavy and consistent, but his real weapon is his backhand, which he uses to attack both short and long balls. What makes him so hard to play against is his anticipation: he reads serves and spins early, frequently counter-lopping opponents before they close out the point.
Shot
Rating (out of 10)
Notes
Forehand Loop
8.5
Heavy and reliable, built on solid fundamentals
Backhand Loop
9.0
His signature shot; attacks down both lines
Serve
8.5
Quality serve with a deceptive pendulum
Serve Receiving
9.0
Exceptional at attacking short balls
Consistency
8.5
Notably low unforced error count for his age
Analysts frequently compare his maturity to that of players a decade older. He rarely beats himself, forcing opponents to earn every point. His near-flawless footwork and balanced stroke production make him an unusually complete player for a teenager.
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Rivalries
The Lebrun brothers rivalry with the Chinese team is the defining storyline of young European table tennis. Felix has defeated multiple members of the Chinese national program in 2024 and 2025, making him the player the Chinese coaches study most closely among non-Asian opponents. Inside Europe, his matches against Truls Moregard and Dang Qiu are growing into marquee rivalries that decide continental supremacy. Against Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, their contrasting tempos produce some of the most entertaining matches on tour.
National Team Role
Felix and Alexis anchor the French men’s team. Felix is the lead singles player and the highest-ranked Frenchman in history for his age, while the pairing a team atmosphere that took France to World Team Championship bronze and multiple European podium finishes. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Felix won a singles bronze medal, giving France its first men’s table tennis Olympic medal in over two decades.
What’s Next
At just 19 in 2026, Felix Lebrun has already accomplished more than most players achieve in a career. The next targets are the world No. 1 ranking, a World Championship singles title, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where France will expect him to compete for gold. Everything suggests he is only getting better.
Felix Lebrun was born on September 12, 2006, making him 19 years old as of 2026. He stands approximately 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) tall.
When did Felix Lebrun win his first WTT Champions title?
Lebrun won the WTT Champions Montpellier title in 2024 at age 18, becoming one of the youngest players to win a Champions-level event in the modern era.
What is Felix Lebrun’s best world ranking?
Lebrun reached the top 5 of the ITTF world rankings in 2024 and has remained in the world’s top 6 through 2025 and 2026.
Has Felix Lebrun won a European Championship?
Yes. Felix Lebrun won the European Championship in 2024, adding the continental title to a fast-growing list of achievements before turning 20.
Racquet sports player and writer covering pickleball, padel, tennis, badminton, and squash. Former collegiate tennis player turned recreational pickleball enthusiast. Jackson writes beginner-friendly guides to help new players get on court faster.
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