Ma Long, the table tennis legend and 2017 graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Antai College of Economics and Management, has been honored with the Outstanding Athlete Career Award by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). The prestigious ceremony took place on October 30, marking the first time a table tennis player has received this distinguished recognition.

In his acceptance speech delivered entirely in English, Ma, now 36, reflected on his remarkable journey: “The past 21 years have been an incredible odyssey. I’m fortunate to have discovered my passion—table tennis—at a young age, always dreaming of competing at the Olympics.” He emphasized that his greatest achievement has been representing the Chinese national team for over two decades.

Ma’s Olympic legacy is unprecedented. As China’s first “six-gold Olympian,” he has amassed an extraordinary collection of six Olympic gold medals across four consecutive Games since his first triumph at London 2012. His historic achievement of defending the men’s singles title at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics made him the first and only player to accomplish this feat, cementing his status as the first male player to achieve a "Double Grand Slam" in table tennis history.

With characteristic humility and wit, Ma remarked to the global audience: “You might need to become a world champion first before having the chance to become a national champion in China”—a testament to the exceptional standards of Chinese table tennis.

The ANOC Awards, established in 2014, recognize outstanding achievements within the Olympic family. Ma’s recognition adds another milestone to his illustrious career that began at age five. On October 31, responding to the award on social media, Ma emphasized “passion” as the driving force behind his success, expressing his commitment to strengthening the sport’s future.

Beyond his athletic achievements, Ma’s connection to academia runs deep. At SJTU Antai, he completed his undergraduate thesis on “Research on Future Marketing Strategies for Chinese Table Tennis Super League,” demonstrating his strategic thinking about the sport’s development.

Most recently, Ma continued to represent China with distinction at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding to his legacy as one of table tennis’s most decorated athletes.

This recognition not only celebrates Ma’s extraordinary athletic career but also highlights the diverse achievements of SJTU Antai alumni in various fields, embodying the school’s philosophy of integrating theory with practice.