 and the ITTF World Championships in 2021 and 2023, Fan's Olympic victory adds the final jewel to his illustrious collection.){kind=link}
Fan Zhendong has achieved a career-defining triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, securing the gold medal in the men’s singles final and completing his Grand Slam. Having previously won four ITTF World Cups (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) and the ITTF World Championships in 2021 and 2023, Fan’s Olympic victory adds the final jewel to his illustrious collection.
Facing Sweden’s Truls Moregard, who had already made history by ending Sweden’s 24-year Olympic medal drought, Fan delivered an electrifying performance. Moregard began strong, claiming the first game 11-7, but the second-seeded Chinese player showed his prowess by winning the next four games 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8.
“He put a lot of pressure on me today. His playing style often means I’m not able to get into my own rhythm, and I had to deal with every point very carefully. To have to face an opponent like him in an Olympic final is something that was frankly quite scary. I lost the first game, then fell behind in the second and third game. If I had not dealt with some key points well, the result might have been different. But that also means I was able to see my own growth today. I believed in myself and was able to adjust and find solutions today. I’m quite happy with that.” – Fan Zhendong
For Moregard, a silver medal finish caps an incredible historic run where he defied all odds, knocking out both the world number one, Wang Chuqin, and the fourth seed, Hugo Calderano, to reach the final. His remarkable journey and performance against one of the sport’s greatest players solidify his status as a star in table tennis.
In the bronze medal match, Félix Lebrun secured a historic podium finish, becoming the youngest-ever singles medalist in Olympic table tennis. The 17-year-old Frenchman achieved this milestone with a commanding 4-0 victory over Brazil’s Hugo Calderano in the Bronze medal match. The South Paris Arena was filled with enthusiastic supporters, and the home crowd provided a significant boost as Lebrun won the first set 11-6, the second set 12-10, and the third set 11-7, before sealing the win with an 11-6 finish in the fourth game. This marks the first time since 1992 that a Frenchman has stood on the men’s singles podium, when Jean-Philippe Gatien claimed silver in Barcelona.
Lebrun’s outstanding performance and the unwavering support of the French fans led him to this remarkable victory. His achievement also heralds a new era for French table tennis. Speaking after his milestone victory, Lebrun said, “It’s the first time I’ve cried tears of joy. Usually I don’t show much emotion, but it’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I was very nervous after I lost Fan Zhendong. Today’s match was really important, and we prepared it very well. It’s a moment I’ll remember for my entire life. It’s incredible for me to put my mark on the history of French table tennis. We’ll see in the future. I hope there will be more medals and the entire French team will progress.”
Hugo Calderano, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first non-Asian and non-European player to reach the semifinals of the Olympic Games. Flying the Brazilian flag high and with pride, Calderano’s campaign is one to be proud of.
As the Singles Event concludes here at Paris 2024, all eyes will turn to the Team Event, which kicks off with the Round of 16 on Monday at 10:00 (GMT+2). Full match schedules and live results are available here.
Credit: ITTF