A huge Fan: Champion paddler inspired by Real Madrid

After winning the men's singles table tennis gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Fan Zhendong celebrated by mimicking the signature "crossed arms" goal celebration of French soccer star Kylian Mbappe. After completing the "Grand Slam" — winning the event at the World Cup, World Championships and, finally, the Olympics — emulating the young World Cup winner seemed fitting.

It was part of a series of tribute celebrations by Fan during the singles competition in Paris. Earlier, after defeating local favorite Felix Lebrun in the semifinals, he imitated Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic "Siu" celebration. Following his quarterfinal match against Tomokazu Harimoto, Fan's raised-hand gesture resembled that of English soccer player Jude Bellingham.

"They inspire me to give my all on the field, never give up, always strive to win, and dare to win," Fan explained. "The atmosphere here is like watching soccer, very exhilarating. So, interacting in this way, I also hope to thank everyone."

All three players are past, present and future stars of Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid, Fan's favorite team. The profile picture on Fan's Weibo account, which has 3.75 million followers, is a photo of him wearing a customized Madrid jersey.

Competitive sports are universal, transcending events, nationalities, and languages. Fan, a dazzling table tennis champion, not only experiences the unique charm of each sport as a professional athlete, but also draws nourishment and energy from them, as well as friendship.

Fan's Weibo follows only 38 accounts, most of which are related to sports, with a notable exception being his favorite singer, Taylor Swift. His interests span a wide range of sports.

Before the Paris Olympics began, Fan encountered Spanish tennis players Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the Olympic Village and posted a photo with them on Weibo. "The Olympics mean far more to athletes than just the competition; it is a truly world-class stage, vibrant in every corner. I love and enjoy the Olympics!" he wrote.

Fan's friendship with German table tennis star Timo Boll is well-known, with soccer being a common interest. In May, Fan and Boll watched Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on a tablet together during the WTT Saudi Arabia Grand Slam.

Last year, during the WTT Champions Frankfurt, Boll took Fan to a Borussia Dortmund match.

Fan shared in a vlog that, while the atmosphere of soccer matches differs from table tennis, both are equally enthralling. He noted that the excitement and cheering in soccer stadiums complement the intensity and skill of table tennis, providing him with a unique and enriching experience.

He once explained on Weibo about his life beyond competition: "On the court, I am a dedicated athlete representing my country and have strived for national honor for over a decade. Outside the arena, in my private life, I am simply an ordinary young man, with personal interests and relationships, aiming to be true to myself."

Following Fan's triumph in the men's singles, Real Madrid extended its congratulations on Weibo. Fan responded in Spanish, saying: "Thank you, because no one resists your desire to win!"

After his dominant semifinal performance, he commented on Weibo: "Hasta el Final!" This phrase, meaning "until the end", was inspired by a massive banner displayed by Madrid fans at Wembley Stadium in June, when it won the Champions League.

As a devoted soccer fan, the 27-year-old may deeply understand the slogan's message: there are no permanent champions in sports. True success comes from relentless perseverance.

It's something he expanded on in the recent documentary More Than a Champion: "People often only see the final results, not the process. By focusing on daily effort, I can accept any outcome. Losing is important to remember, but shouldn't define you.

"After losing in Tokyo, I was uncertain about the future, or if I'd win the World Table Tennis Championship again. Yet, dedication always pays off, and I'm more open-minded now than before."

Fan is now one step closer to completing his Paris journey — there's just one medal left to win.

Alongside teammates Ma Long and Wang Chuqin, Fan will strive to bring home the team gold against Sweden on Friday.

All that's left for the supporters to do is speculate about what celebration Fan has planned, and to hope that he gets to perform it.