Captain Long leaves Olympic stage as most decorated table tennis star after golden last dance in Paris
Long Ma of Team People’s Republic of China competes in Match 1 during the Table Tennis Men’s Team Gold Medal match between China and Sweden at South Paris Arena on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
PARIS, August 10, 2024 - “Oh my God! Ma Long, I love you! Do you know, I love you!” a young foreign fan, wearing a Chinese team jersey and bursting with excitement, screamed at the top of his voice as the table tennis legend approached him and signed his racket. This priceless, viral moment, which came after the men's table tennis team semifinal on Thursday between China and France, sums up the great impact Ma Long has had on the sport globally.
SIXTH GOLD The following day (Friday), the 35-year-old led China to victory against Sweden for its fifth straight Olympic victory in the team event and the Chinese national team captain secured a record-extending sixth career Olympic gold to become the most decorated table tennis Olympian - no other table tennis player has more than four. Having won at least one gold medal in every Summer Games since London in 2012, Ma also became the Chinese athlete with the most gold medals in the history of the Olympics.
CONCLUDING AN OLYMPIC JOURNEY “These past 12 years have been a journey filled with ups and downs, and I feel incredibly fortunate. I've played many different roles in each Olympics,” he said. “After Tokyo I didn't expect to be here in Paris, but these three years have helped me grow mentally and technically. This gold medal is a great way to conclude my Olympic journey.”
In Paris, Ma, who holds the record for the longest reign at number one in the table tennis world rankings, solidified his legacy as the greatest paddler of all time, having already achieved a career Grand Slam of the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup twice, along with other major titles in the Asian Games, Asian Championships and Asian Cup.
BEFITTING FAREWELL Earlier this year, Ma announced that he will not play at any more World Championships after helping China to the top of the podium at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in Busan, South Korea in February, now Paris has provided a befitting atmosphere for his Olympic farewell.
“Unlike the Tokyo Olympics, where there were no spectators due to the pandemic, this time the atmosphere was incredible. European fans created a great atmosphere, especially during our match against France, where the home crowd supported their team. We also had a lot of Chinese fans supporting us, which helped improve the performance of all the athletes. I believe this positive atmosphere played a crucial role in our success.”
Ma, who prefers to be called Captain Long, was one of China's two flagbearers at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony and apart from his ping pong brilliance, his humility also endeared him to many. He was asked why he loves table tennis: “It has been accompanying me for over 30 years, and I have a lasting passion for it. Thanks to table tennis, people know me, and it has brought me a lot of respect, glory and help, and many memorable and thrilling moments as well, so I find no reason of not loving it.”
MESSAGE TO YOUNG PADDLERS Ma added: “I hope young athletes can learn from us, whether they are from China or other countries. The lessons of competitive sports, the passion to pursue one’s dreams, and the experiences we go through can inspire many.”
He is not done playing table tennis, though. “You might still see me on the international table tennis stage in the future,” Ma said.
SIXTH GOLD The following day (Friday), the 35-year-old led China to victory against Sweden for its fifth straight Olympic victory in the team event and the Chinese national team captain secured a record-extending sixth career Olympic gold to become the most decorated table tennis Olympian - no other table tennis player has more than four. Having won at least one gold medal in every Summer Games since London in 2012, Ma also became the Chinese athlete with the most gold medals in the history of the Olympics.
CONCLUDING AN OLYMPIC JOURNEY “These past 12 years have been a journey filled with ups and downs, and I feel incredibly fortunate. I've played many different roles in each Olympics,” he said. “After Tokyo I didn't expect to be here in Paris, but these three years have helped me grow mentally and technically. This gold medal is a great way to conclude my Olympic journey.”
In Paris, Ma, who holds the record for the longest reign at number one in the table tennis world rankings, solidified his legacy as the greatest paddler of all time, having already achieved a career Grand Slam of the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup twice, along with other major titles in the Asian Games, Asian Championships and Asian Cup.
BEFITTING FAREWELL Earlier this year, Ma announced that he will not play at any more World Championships after helping China to the top of the podium at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in Busan, South Korea in February, now Paris has provided a befitting atmosphere for his Olympic farewell.
“Unlike the Tokyo Olympics, where there were no spectators due to the pandemic, this time the atmosphere was incredible. European fans created a great atmosphere, especially during our match against France, where the home crowd supported their team. We also had a lot of Chinese fans supporting us, which helped improve the performance of all the athletes. I believe this positive atmosphere played a crucial role in our success.”
Ma, who prefers to be called Captain Long, was one of China's two flagbearers at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony and apart from his ping pong brilliance, his humility also endeared him to many. He was asked why he loves table tennis: “It has been accompanying me for over 30 years, and I have a lasting passion for it. Thanks to table tennis, people know me, and it has brought me a lot of respect, glory and help, and many memorable and thrilling moments as well, so I find no reason of not loving it.”
MESSAGE TO YOUNG PADDLERS Ma added: “I hope young athletes can learn from us, whether they are from China or other countries. The lessons of competitive sports, the passion to pursue one’s dreams, and the experiences we go through can inspire many.”
He is not done playing table tennis, though. “You might still see me on the international table tennis stage in the future,” Ma said.
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