By When someone asks you to name the greatest sports legends of all time, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, or Usain Bolt probably come to your mind, right? But when it comes to table tennis, there’s one absolute legend who deserves that same level of respect – that’s Ma Long.
His fans usually call him “The Dictator” and “The Captain” because of how sharp and unstoppable he is on the court. He is even known as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in table tennis.
Please join us on his fun and amazing journey from where he started his massive success today.
How a Boy from Anshan Started It All?
Ma Long was born on October 20, 1988, in Anshan, China. He started playing table tennis when he was just 5 years old and fell in love with the sport. His parents noticed how well he could track the ball and move around the table, so they supported him from the beginning.
When he turned 15 15, in 2003, his hard work paid off. He earned a place in the Chinese National Team. And he didn’t take long to make his name in the table tennis industry. Soon, he became a real powerhouse at the table.
In 2006, he won his first major ITTF ( International Table Tennis Federation Professional Tour) Pro Tour title at just 17 years old. It was the moment he started showing the world that a new table tennis star was on the rise.
How Ma Long Changed Table Tennis Forever?
If you are wondering why Ma Long is considered the greatest table tennis player ever, you just have to look at what he has achieved. Honestly, he has beaten the game!
He is the guy in history to pull off a Career Double Grand Slam. That means he did not just win the titles, he won the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup at least twice, completing a Career Double Grand Slam.
- The Olympic King: He has won a massive 6 Olympic gold medals across four different Olympic Games (2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024). No other table tennis player comes close to that.
- World Champion: He has won 14 World Championship titles in total, including three consecutive singles titles across the 2015, 2017, and 2019 World Championships
- The No. 1 Spot: Back when the rankings were calculated differently, he held the world number one spot for 64 months total and even kept it for 34 months straight.
What is Ma Long’s Net Worth?
After reading all about his journey and his achievements, you must be excited to know Ma Long’s net worth. Well, experts estimate around $15 million to $20 million.
Even though table tennis doesn’t pay crazy prize money like gold or tennis, Ma Long has built his fortune in many other ways:
- Sponsorships & Endorsements
He’s a huge superstar across Asia, so big brands are always looking to work with him. That includes table tennis giant Butterfly, DHS and several lifestyle companies.
- Big Club Salaries
Playing in China’s top professional league, the CTTSL, can pay really well. Star players can earn around 5 million yuan ($750,000) a year.
- Government Incentives
In China, winning Olympic Gold can also come with massive cash rewards and lifetime financial security from the government.
Life After the Olympic Singles Stage
Now that Ma Long had performed superbly during the 2024 Olympics held in Paris, he thought that it was perhaps time for him to move on so that the new generation of players could get their turn to shine.
He stepped away from the singles world rankings and handed over his major role as captain of China’s men’s team to Wang Chuqin, who’s a huge superstar in his own right.
But don’t worry, “The Captain” isn’t going anywhere! He’s now the Vice President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, where he helps train younger players and makes sure they learn the right techniques.
The coolest part? He hasn’t actually quit playing yet. Even though people thought he might retire completely, Ma Long teamed back up with his old buddy Xu Xin. The two great players played as a team; they completely took over the tournament. They won the Men’s Doubles championship! They showed that they can still beat the players who are currently playing just because they truly enjoy the sport.
The Legacy of No. 1
Ma Long’s journey is honestly incredible. Through sheer hard work and unbelievable talent, he turned a simple little ping pong ball into an extraordinary career and made table tennis feel like a fast-paced game of chess. Even after he retires, he’ll always be remembered as one of the absolute GOATs of table tennis.
Does his story inspire you? Tell us what your favourite match of his is, or let us know if you want to geek out over the exact paddle and blade during his iconic Double Grand Slam run.
