In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Ma Long, the most decorated table tennis Olympian, shares his plans post-Paris 2024. Although he announced that he would no longer compete in major international events, Ma still isn’t ready to step away from the game entirely.
Ma Long’s illustrious career in global championships reached its peak this year when he won his sixth Olympic gold medal in table tennis at the Paris Olympics. Already the most successful athlete in the sport, Ma led the Chinese team to another victory in the French capital, focusing solely on the men’s team event. Following this triumph, he confirmed that Paris was likely the final chapter of his career in major competitions, stating, “I consider the Paris Olympics to be the final stop in my career, so I’m very happy to end it on such a perfect note.”
Nevertheless, during a recent interview at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards in Portugal, Ma hinted that he’s not yet ready to fully retire. “One day when I actually choose to stop playing, whatever the reason may be – I might want to experience life differently – I will tell everyone,” he explains. “But not now; you’ll still have chances to see me on court.”
Reflecting on his journey, Ma admits that his decision to continue playing after Tokyo 2020 was filled with hesitation. “I was 33 years old after playing in Tokyo, so I didn’t want to imagine I would go to Paris,” he reveals. This cycle was especially challenging as he faced uncertainty for the first time regarding his Olympic future. Unlike previous years, when he consistently ranked at the top and won numerous titles that motivated him to keep going, Ma found his singles game had declined, and he struggled to maintain his form and confidence.
When younger teammates Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin were selected as China’s singles representatives, Ma’s hopes of defending his singles title were dashed. He even questioned whether he would make it onto the team for the group event. However, at the ITTF Men’s World Cup in Macao, he found renewed confidence, overcoming a 0-3 deficit in the final to win. “My coaches and teammates gave me a lot of encouragement,” Ma reflects. “This year’s World Cup was a big turning point, coming from 0-3 down in the final to win was an important step in proving to myself I could still compete.”
Ma’s international career spans over 15 years, dating back to his role as a training partner during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, although he did not compete then. His actual Olympic debut came four years later at London 2012, an experience he recalls as his most unforgettable. “I was very nervous before the competition,” he recalls. “The Olympics were different from other tournaments in the past, even the World Championships, because regardless of whether one enjoys sports, everyone watches the Olympics. So I felt a lot of pressure.”
Following his Paris gold, Ma returned to his hometown of Beijing to compete in the 2024 WTT China Smash, where he achieved a runner-up finish. For the first time, his two children were able to watch him play live. “I felt there was a big opportunity because although my children know I play table tennis, they had never seen me play in person before,” he shares. Hosting the event in Beijing after such a long gap made the experience even more meaningful for Ma, as he wanted his children to “experience the charm of table tennis and enjoy the atmosphere.”
While Paris may have marked the end of Ma’s major competitive career, he remains focused on the present and is still contemplating his future. He mentions a potential transition to something “blander, calmer” post-retirement but is in no hurry to finalize his plans. “Probably I prefer a feeling that is blander, calmer,” he notes. “I haven’t thought about it right now. I’ll also need to adjust and adapt to the life I might face in the future, which includes finding a new direction and goals.”
Looking back on his journey, Ma expresses a desire to savor the present, acknowledging, “But looking back, time actually seems to go by really fast. So for now I want to be able to enjoy the present.”
