China’s table tennis star Fan Zhendong is in celebratory mode after winning the highly coveted Olympic gold medal against Sweden’s Truls Möregårdh in the men’s individual table tennis finals on August 4. But did you know that the Olympic champion is also a proud Swiftie? Showing everyone just how big of a Taylor Swift fan he is, Fan Zhendong even referenced the superstar’s The Alchemy on social media post-win: “Finally, touch down! Will keep working hard in the team competition. Taylor Swift《The Alchemy》” he excitedly wrote.
He’s Certainly a Proud Swiftie
The 27-year-old ping-ping star is not shy about being a huge Swiftie, making sporadic posts sharing her songs and quoting her lyrics from time to time on social media. Whilst in Singapore for a competition hosted by the World Table Tennis organisation in March, he made time to attend an ERAs tour concert but clips he shared of himself rocking out and singing along to Taylor’s songs at the concert, which were meant for a few people leaked online. Mind you he caught a lot of flak from C-Netizens over this. Disappointed netizens claimed it affected his play causing him to underperform.
Back then, Fan Zhendong quickly moved to shut down the criticism when he said “on the field, I am an athlete training for my country. For more than a decade, I have never slacked in my duty to win glory for the country. In the very limited time I have for myself outside the field, I am just an ordinary young man, with my own hobbies and relationships“. He also explained he squeezed out three hours two days before the competition to attend the big party that Swifties all around the world have dreamed of.
Honestly, a “slacker” isn’t what anyone would describe him as he proves time and again what hard work and determination can do to turn things around. Fast forward to the present, and Fan Zhendong has won the Gold medal in the Singles event in table tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the final gold medal match, he actually lost his first game in the best of seven series. Despite this, he managed to pull through, delivering plenty of nail-biting action against Truls. It was definitely a well-deserved win.
Source: 1
Paj
he would probably get banned