Almost everyone knows the name Hugo Hoyama in Brazil. Yet, hardly anyone recognizes him on the streets.

That probably won't change after Hoyama won his ninth gold medal in table tennis on Tuesday to become the most successful Brazilian athlete in the history of the Pan American Games.

He surpassed former swimmer Gustavo Borges when Brazil beat Argentina 3-1 in the team's final, with Hoyama winning the fourth and clinching rubber.

"From all the nine medals, this one is the best," he said. "But I'll still try to win my 10th."

Hoyama will also play in the individual competition, which begins on Wednesday.

"Hugo is a winner and I admire him a lot," teammate Thiago Monteiro said. "I'm proud of being his teammate, particularly on such a special moment for him and the country."

Because of the record, Hoyama attracted a lot more local media attention recently, but there's a limit to the stardom of a table tennis player in Brazil.

"There aren't a lot of people asking for autographs or asking to take photos with me," Hoyama said. "Once in a while, when I go to the shopping mall, you can tell people know who I am, and that makes me happy."

Table tennis is rarely on TV in Brazil, and if it wasn't for Hoyama's record in Rio, the sport wouldn't receive much coverage _ even during the Pan Ams.

"Everybody knows the sport because they play it as kids, but the competitions don't get much attention here, that's a problem," Hoyama said.

Things should improve a bit with the record, but he knows it's not going to revolutionize the sport.

"Other sports will always get more attention ... it's natural," he said. "What we hope is to attract more sponsors and get kids to start playing in the schools. That's what I really want, It's not important if people recognize me or not."

Paulo Cesar Bueno de Camargo, chief of Brazil's table tennis delegation, said Hoyama "knows this medal is not for himself, it's for Brazil's table tennis."

The 38-year-old Hoyama is participating in his sixth Pan Ams.

The first, in 1987 in Indianapolis, was where he won his first gold in the team's event. He added the individual, doubles and team titles in 1991 in Mar del Plata and in 1995 in Cuba, and the doubles again in 2003 in Santo Domingo.

"I think every athlete dreams of doing well and making history for your country," Hoyama said. "It's an honor, for sure."

Despite also seven national titles and six Latin American championships, he hasn't been able to match that success at the highest level. He was ninth in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and 13th in the World Cup that year.

Borges won eight gold medals in four Pan Ams from 1991 until 2003. He has a total of 19 overall medals, while Hoyama has 13.

Gymnast Eric Lopez Rios of Cuba has won the most golds in the history of the Pan Ams with 17.

Hoyama said this will be his last Pan Ams but he's not quitting on the Olympics.

"I still dream about the Olympics, that will be my main goal once the Pan is over," he said.