by Sportswriters He Leijing and Yue Ranran
PARIS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- On the podium, paddler Ma Long lifted his gold medal and gazed at it intently.
"I've never really looked at a gold medal closely before," he said. "But this is my last Olympics. Holding it now, it feels heavy - I've heard it contains iron from the Eiffel Tower."
This weighty piece of hardware marks the 35-year-old's sixth Olympic gold, cementing his status as the most decorated Olympian in China's history.
Ma's fourth Olympic journey began on July 14, when the Chinese table tennis team set off for Paris. Dressed in pristine white, with a crisp new haircut, Ma declared, "I'm eager to bring home the team championship with my teammates."
That wish became reality on August 9, as Ma, alongside Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong, swept Sweden 3-0 to secure China's fifth consecutive Olympic men's team title in table tennis.
After the medal ceremony, as the Swedish and bronze medalists French teams gathered for a group photo with the champions, Ma stood proudly in the center. "This is a moment worth savoring," he remarked.
GOLD MEDALIST
After clinching the men's doubles victory over the Swedish pair, Ma celebrated with a daring intricate move - a 360-degree arm spin.
The first match saw Ma and Wang Chuqin pitted against Sweden's Anton Kallberg and Kristian Karlsson. To everyone's surprise, China was almost overturned. The dynamic duo started strong, jumping to a 7-2 lead, only to be overtaken 9-7 and eventually losing the first game 11-8.
But Ma and Wang regained their rhythm in the second game, launching a 6-0 run. Wang's net skimming return sealed an 11-4 win, leveling the score. In the third game, the Chinese pair dominated once again, but the Swedes fought back in the fourth, with Ma faltering on a critical point, allowing Sweden to take the game 11-6.
The deciding game was a tense affair, with Ma and Wang pushing their lead to 10-4, only for the Swedes to claw back three match points. But Ma ended the suspense with a thunderous forehand smash, sealing the victory 3-2 for China.
In a burst of exhilaration, Ma twirled, his arm sweeping through the air as the crowd roared. "That was completely spontaneous," he explained. "After the shot, I just spun around."
The subsequent two singles matches were equally nerve-wracking, with both newly-crowned men's singles Olympic champion Fan Zhendong and Wang battling through five-game thrillers against Truls Moregard and Karlsson, respectively.
"Even though we were well-prepared, a single misstep could have changed the entire course of the match. The Swedish team deserves our utmost respect," Ma said, generously praising their opponents.
"With two of the world's best teammates by my side, I'm deeply grateful. This gold medal is the perfect conclusion to my Olympic journey, but you might still see me on the international stage in the future," the veteran added.
While Ma bids farewell to the Olympics, his career is not over just yet.
FLAG BEARER
For Ma, the proudest moment of this Olympic journey was not just winning gold - it was being the flag bearer.
"At every Olympics, there might be dozens of champions, but there are only one or two flag bearers. And this time, I carried the flag on the Seine River," he reflected.
On July 26, as the Paris Olympics officially opened, Ma and artistic swimmer Feng Yu proudly held aloft the Chinese flag, shining on the Seine.
In a uniquely Parisian twist, athletes did not march into a stadium but sailed down the river in a grand parade. Ma waved the flag vigorously, showcasing the spirit of the Chinese team.
Looking back on that moment, Ma admitted his nervousness. "I was worried. What if I dropped the flag? It was raining, and I had to keep waving, so I was quite tense."
On July 24, the Chinese delegation announced its two flagbearers, with Ma being one of them. The choice was in recognition of his long-standing Olympic dedication, having competed in London, Rio, Tokyo, and now Paris.
Ma was in the midst of training at the South Paris Arena when he received the news. "I felt incredibly honored," he said, attributing this recognition not just to himself, but to the legacy and tradition of China's table tennis champions.
"As the flag bearer, I represented not just myself but the entire Chinese table tennis team. We're here to continue our legacy in Paris and to share the spirit of Chinese sports with the world," he said.
THE GOAT
After the doubles match, Ma neatly folded his towel, donned his jacket, and sat beside coach Wang Hao to watch his teammates' compete. He was fully engaged, pumping his fist and applauding every great shot, leaning forward in tense moments as if trying to decipher the game's next twist.
"Whether it's Wang or Fan, they've both been through countless major tournaments and have extensive experience. On the court, their mindset might fluctuate, but from the sidelines, I can see things more clearly and offer timely advice," Ma said. "Of course, when I'm playing, they help me too."
Ma is a favorite in the Olympic Village, with athletes often asking for photos, which they would share eagerly on social media. At the venue, fans clamor for autographs, from French kids shouting, "Ma Long, I love you," to security guards discreetly handing over ping-pong balls for a signature.
"With so much support, I'm really happy. I hope my career can be as long and influential as Timo Boll's," Ma said after defeating France in a semifinal on August 8.
Just two days earlier, 43-year-old Boll suffered back-to-back defeats, leading to Germany's elimination by Sweden in the quarterfinals. Boll's exit left Ma feeling a bit melancholy.
"Boll isn't just a great player; he's a great person. For so many years, he's maintained an incredibly high level of play. Everyone respects him tremendously," Ma said.
"Do you think you might compete in as many Olympics as Boll?" a reporter asked after the semifinal.
"Probably not," Ma replied with a smile, as if he had already mapped out his future. "But like Boll, I hope to inspire more kids to fall in love with table tennis."
"So do you see yourself becoming a coach after retirement?" another journalist inquired.
"I really don't know now," Ma laughed.
Perhaps the GOAT of table tennis has not given it much thought yet.
"As a little celebration, I'll start by trading all my pins with athletes from other countries," Ma said after claiming his sixth weighty gold. ■
