The Long goodbye

Revered as the "Hexagon Warrior" by Japanese media, Ma Long has long been celebrated for his near-perfect mastery of six key attributes: power, speed, technique, serve, defense and experience.

On Friday, he clinched his sixth Olympic gold medal, a triumph that perfectly encapsulates his dominance in each of these areas, and seals his legendary status with a flawless final act on the Olympic stage.

Over the course of four Olympic Games, from London to Paris, Ma's journey has been one of transformation — evolving from sharp young paddler to an unshakable cornerstone of his team. At 35, he stands as a powerful symbol of how unwavering passion can defy the passage of time.

"My goal now is simply to keep playing the game I love. My only focus is to give everything I've got, without worrying about the finish line," Ma often says.

That finish line came, late last week, at the Paris Olympics, when Ma, alongside teammates Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, triumphed over Sweden, clinching a fifth consecutive Olympic team title.

As the flag bearer for the Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony, Ma also made history by becoming the most decorated Chinese Olympian.

Following his victory, Ma shared on Weibo: "From London to Paris, it's been a long and challenging journey. It was tough, but perfect. Thank you to everyone who stood by my side and supported me."

The official Olympics website declared: "Ma Long is, without a doubt, the greatest table tennis player in history."

In the final, after securing victory, Ma marked the moment with a spontaneous 360-degree arm swing — a celebratory gesture that captured his last Olympic performance.

"That spin was instinctive; after the shot, I just naturally turned around," he explained.

Ma noted the electric atmosphere in the arena and how much he savored the moment.

"The support from the Chinese fans in the crowd was incredible. I believe this kind of energy helps both teams elevate their performance, and it definitely had a positive effect.