Chinese table tennis icon Ma Long (C) receives the ANOC Award for Outstanding Sport at the 2024 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards Ceremony held in Cascais, Portugal, October 30, 2024 Received career award (Photo/Xinhua)
CASCAIS, Portugal – Chinese table tennis icon Ma Long received the Outstanding Sports Career Award from the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) here on Wednesday, recognizing his outstanding achievements and contributions to the sport.
Ma, 36, has competed in four consecutive Olympics since the 2012 London Games and has won six gold medals during his Olympic career, making him China’s most decorated Olympian.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she won her first gold medal in singles, completing a career Grand Slam. Five years later, at the Tokyo Games, he defended his title, becoming the first male table tennis player to win back-to-back Olympic singles titles and achieving the status of the sport’s first “double grand slam” champion.
“It is a great honor to receive this award and be recognized by ANOC,” Ma told Xinhua News Agency. “This award represents not only my efforts, but also the efforts of the Chinese table tennis team. Four of my six Olympic gold medals came from team competitions, which reflects our collective strength, and the efforts of the Chinese table tennis team. I am very grateful to my mate.”
Chinese table tennis icon Ma Long ( Left) and New Zealand kayak star Lisa Carrington on 30th 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)
The award ceremony took place in the Portuguese coastal town of Cascais, where the 27th ANOC General Assembly is being held.
During the ceremony, a video montage highlighted memorable moments from Ma’s career. While watching the video, a Chinese veteran reflected on how quickly time has passed and said, “It feels like the Olympic journey has gone by in the blink of an eye.”
Ma added that his success came not only from his love for table tennis, but also from the support of his team and family who encouraged him throughout his career.
The female winner of the Outstanding Sports Career Award was New Zealand kayaking star Lisa Carrington. Like Marr, Carrington started his Olympic journey at the 2012 London Games and has since won multiple medals, including eight gold medals, cementing his place as one of the sport’s greatest athletes. We have solidified our position.
Other outstanding performances at the Paris Olympics were also recognized at the ceremony. Botswana track and field athlete Lesile Tebogo won the men’s 200m, becoming Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal and winning the Best Male Athlete award. The Best Female Athlete award went to Saint Lucia’s Julian Alfred, who won gold in the women’s 100m and silver in the 200m, making history as the country’s first Olympic medalist.
IOC Executive Director Lee Linwei presented the Japan Gymnastics Team with the award for Best Men’s Team in an Individual Competition, and the British Women’s Cycling Sprint Team won the Award for Best Women’s Team in an Individual Competition.
Denmark’s men’s handball team won the Best Men’s Team Award at the Paris 2024 Games, with former Olympic champion Ding Ding of China presenting the award. The Italian women’s volleyball team won the award for best women’s team.
