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Ma Long stood on top of the podium, the gold medal shining around his neck as the crowd erupted in applause. No stranger to the gold, he still paused to take a hard look.
On Friday Ma, one of table tennis's true greats, wrote his name into the history books by becoming China's most decorated Olympian with six golds in all, dating back to the London 2012 Games.
Alongside teammates Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin, Ma and his team overcame Sweden, marking a perfect ending to his own illustrious Olympic journey.
"This is my last Olympics and the experience is perfect. I feel very proud and lucky," said Ma, who said he'll be busy trading pins with other countries' teams in the few days left at the Olympics.
Already known as the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the sport, Ma said he's glad to get the "perfect ending" in his last Olympics after he and his teammates Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin beat Sweden on Friday.
Growing up in northeastern China, Ma, now married with a child, has had an unusually long career representing his country, which dominates the sport of table tennis like no other, in three consecutive Olympics.
Ma didn't want to highlight his personal accomplishments, however, instead attributing his success to strong team support in China.
Speaking after securing the gold, Ma paid tribute to Timo Boll, the four-time Olympic medalist who bid his farewell to international competition in Paris earlier this week after his team, Germany, was eliminated.
"I was also very moved at that moment. Boll's retirement marks the end of a career that has undoubtedly influenced many athletes, including myself. He has earned a lot of respect. This is what makes great athletes special — they provide unforgettable experiences for ordinary people."
The only time he might sound less humble was when he was asked about Sweden's prospects in the upcoming 2028 LA Games.
"From the Swedish team's performance this time, you can see that they still have a strong impact and desire for the championship. I look forward to them delivering an even better performance. But I still believe that the Chinese team remains the strongest."
At 35, Ma says he has no plans yet to retire completely. He hopes he can continue to inspire others with his storied career.
"They can continue to feel the charm that competitive sports bring, whether it's the willingness to give everything for their dreams or the experiences each athlete goes through," said Ma.
