China's Fan Zhendong earns table tennis immortality with singles gold at Paris Olympics

"Music transcends borders, and remarkable musicians like Taylor Swift bring solace and confidence to all. I hope more people can embrace this enchanting power," declared Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong on social media earlier this year.

Arguably one of China's most prominent Swift fans, Fan exudes confidence and charisma, just like his American idol. The 28-year-old mesmerized a fervent crowd and ignited an electric atmosphere at South Paris Arena 4 on Sunday with his impeccable technique and graceful maneuvers.

Fan went on to outshine Swedish opponent Truls Moregard 4-1, clinching his first-ever individual Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024.

Finally grasping the prestigious accolade missing from his collection, Fan joined the exclusive ranks of just six male paddlers to accomplish a "Grand Slam," having triumphed at the World Championships, World Cup, and now the Olympics.

Moregard proved himself as an extraordinary underdog. The 22-year-old, ranked 26th globally, defied the odds by toppling top-seeded Wang Chuqin of China and fourth seed Hugo Calderano of Brazil to reach the final. The highly-anticipated showdown against Fan promised to be a spectacle of skill, strategy and nerves, and it certainly delivered.

Moregard grabbed an unexpected lead after taking the first game 11-8, but Fan quickly retaliated by securing the second game 11-9 to level the overall score at 1-1. Drawing on his experience, Fan recalibrated his tactics, adopting a more assertive stance with his serve and forehand.

Despite Moregard's attempts to shift the tide, Fan surged ahead, clinching the third game 11-9 and the fourth game 11-8, for a 2-1 lead. Moregard displayed tenacity in refining his backhand play, but his inconsistent use of chop blocks cost him crucial points. Ultimately, he succumbed in each of the final two games 11-8, settling for silver in his Olympic debut.

"I lost the first game, and then fell behind in the second and third games. If I hadn't handled some key points well, the result might have been different," said Fan. "But that also means I witnessed my own growth today. I believed in myself, and was able to adjust and find solutions. I'm quite happy with that."

After finally achieving his long-held dream, Fan twirled towards the elated Chinese fans with his arms wide open, imitating the iconic goal celebration of football star Jude Bellingham, one of his favorite Real Madrid players.

As a representative of China's young generation of athletes, Fan boldly reveals his personal interests and private life in various settings. There's even a viral clip of him belting out "Cruel Summer" with fellow Swifties at the pop singer's Eras Tour concert at the Singapore National Stadium in March. But once back at the table, Fan seamlessly switches into his focused, dominant persona as a top-tier athlete.

Following Fan's historic victory, his coach Wang Hao enveloped him in a tight embrace, planted a kiss on his cheek, lifted him up and spun him around. Wang intimately understands the feeling of chasing that one elusive title. Over his career, he collected 18 world championships and secured Olympic silver three times, but the Olympic gold always remained just out of reach.

At the Paris Games, Fan finally realized his coach's Olympic gold dream. There's undoubtedly a delicate chemistry between the pair, perfectly encapsulated by the Swift song Fan shared on social media after his triumphant final win: "The Alchemy."