Guoliang LIU

Dream debut

Guoliang Liu was just 15 when he was first selected for the Chinese national team. He made his Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games and reached the final which saw him play against compatriot Tao Wang. The match was tight but Guoliang won in five sets to take gold. He also enjoyed success in the doubles with teammate Lin Lu, making him a double Olympic champion.

Sydney

Four years later, Guoliang Liu went to the Sydney Games to defend his titles. However, he was easily beaten in the singles semi-final and had to settle for bronze. In the doubles, he played with teammate Linghui Kong and won silver.

Retirement and legacy

With four medals won over two Olympic Games, Guoliang Liu had become the most decorated male table tennis player in Olympic history. In 2002, he retired from competition and became the youngest-ever head coach of the Chinese men’s team.