Paris Olympics: China table tennis legend Ma Long hints at retirement after sixth gold
- Victory in Friday’s final against Sweden was the fourth men’s team gold for Ma over the course of a 12-year Olympic career
China table tennis legend Ma Long hinted he may call time on his illustrious career after being given the opportunity to bow out on the ultimate high.
The 35-year-old, who helped the men’s team to victory over Sweden on Friday, won his first Olympic gold medal in 2012 and has claimed at least one at every Summer Games since.
But now it appears as though his incredible journey is coming to an end after completing a 12-year Olympic journey spanning four Games with another gold medal.
“The Paris Games, I think it is the last stop of [my] professional career,” he told reporters. “I am happy that it came with a perfect result.”
From London to the French capital, Ma and his various teammates have never missed out on team gold, while the 35-year-old has also won back-to-back singles titles in that time – the only man to have done so.
“I am certainly lucky over the last 12 years, and I should be proud of myself,” the Anshan native said. “There were many highs and lows throughout the years, and the roles or requirements for me were never the same in each of those Games.
