Ma Long

Ma Long is a Chinese table tennis player who won Olympic men’s singles gold medals in 2016 and 2020. His major titles and sustained success make him one of the sport’s most decorated players.

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2016 Summer Olympics: The Summer Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. Ma Long won his first Olympic men’s singles gold medal in Rio.
Table tennis: A racket sport in which players strike a lightweight ball across a table divided by a net. It is the sport in which Ma Long built his competitive career.
Zhang Jike: A Chinese table tennis player who completed a career Grand Slam by winning Olympic, world, and World Cup singles titles. Their rivalry produced major finals and contrasted two celebrated Chinese champions.
Table tennis at the Summer Olympics: The table tennis competitions included in the Summer Olympic Games since 1988. His repeated Olympic success stands out in the sport’s modern Olympic history.
2020 Summer Olympics: The Summer Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 2021 after postponement from 2020. He defended his singles title and won men’s team gold in Tokyo.
Forehand loop: A topspin table-tennis stroke made on the racket side of the body, using a forward and upward swing. Ma Long’s forehand loop is a central source of his attacking pressure.
Fan Zhendong: A Chinese table tennis player who won the men’s singles world title in 2021. He became a leading successor and a frequent teammate in China’s elite squad.
Grand Slam (table tennis): A table-tennis achievement defined by winning Olympic, World Championship, and World Cup singles titles. Ma Long completed this set of major singles titles, a benchmark for all-time greatness.
World Table Tennis Championships: The premier international table tennis championships for national teams and individual events. Ma Long won the men’s singles world title three times.
Backhand loop: A topspin table-tennis stroke made across the body with a backhand motion. His backhand loop supports fast exchanges and prevents opponents from targeting only his forehand.