Beijing time, October 31st, Ma Long, the grand slam winner of Chinese table tennis, brought good news that he was awarded the Outstanding Athlete Career Award at the 2024 National and Regional Olympic Committee Association Awards Ceremony held in Cascais, Portugal. Ma Long himself also appeared at the scene to deliver a speech in English:
"I believe standing here today, I not only represent myself, but also the Chinese table tennis team. The past 21 years of my professional career have been a long journey. I consider myself very fortunate to have found my passion for table tennis at a young age and to have dreamed of participating in the Olympics one day. I have always adhered to this dream, dedicating all of myself to it and never giving up."
Born in 1988, Ma Long is a legendary figure in the world of table tennis. He has won the World Championship title 31 times and claimed the Olympic gold medal 6 times, setting historical records in the field of table tennis. He is also the only athlete in the history of the Chinese Olympic Games to win 6 gold medals, earning the respect of table tennis fans and sports enthusiasts from around the world.
Furthermore, Ma Long is the oldest mainstay player in the history of the Chinese table tennis team and also the oldest athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in the history of world table tennis. With a long and illustrious career, it is well-deserved that he received the Outstanding Athlete Career Award at this year's National and Regional Olympic Committee Association Awards Ceremony.
During the award ceremony, when asked about his most cherished achievement in his professional career, Ma Long jokingly said, "Everyone knows that the Chinese table tennis team is the strongest. You have to become the world champion first before striving for the national championships." Therefore, he believes that his "greatest achievement is being a member of this team for 21 years."
In the fiercely competitive Chinese table tennis team, numerous talents come and go. Many have had their moments of glory but ultimately could not withstand the impact from their teammates and left the stage in disappointment. However, Ma Long's ability to serve in this team for 21 years and be a part of the main lineup for a remarkable 18 years truly places him at the pinnacle of history.
In his closing remarks, Ma Long candidly expressed, "Table tennis is still not the biggest sport on a global scale, but I hope that with the efforts of me and all table tennis athletes, our sport will continue to improve." Here, we can also see Ma Long's broad perspective – he is no longer just a player, but has risen to a higher vantage point to contemplate the development of table tennis, which is truly remarkable!
In October of this year, after the men's singles final of the WTT China Grand Slam, Ma Long revealed that this might be his last time participating in international formal competitions. Next, he will participate in the new tournament "The Lao Wa Cup" organized by the legendary Swedish player and the first grand slam winner in the history of table tennis, Jan-Ove Waldner, in December. Let's look forward to his continued brilliance, driving the development of table tennis!
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