The topic of this article was inspired by the comments of netizens.
After winning the men's singles championship at the Macau World Cup, Ma Long's singles world championship has reached 8, the total number of world championships is 30, and the number of important events is 151, and he is only 1 Olympic singles gold medal away from achieving 3 Grand Slams!
Therefore, Ma Long is the well-deserved best in table tennis history in the minds of many fans and friends - GOAT. However, personally, I still recommend Waldner as the best table tennis player in history.
First of all, it should be noted that everyone's cognition is limited by the era in which they live, as well as their knowledge reserves. In fact, most of the children who are just starting table tennis do not know who Lao Wa is, let alone be able to understand his extremely chic table tennis philosophy.
So, I can understand that. For me, I am limited to the field since 1980, and I am more interested in the athletes from that era to the present. But table tennis has a history of more than 100 years, and the World Table Tennis Championships have been 98 years old.
It's just that from 1980 to the present, the GOAT in my mind is Lao Wa, and it is impossible for any changes to occur in the future, even if Ma Long really wins three Grand Slams, it still does not affect Lao Wa's status in my mind, this is because: the best era of table tennis has passed. Will the future be a global glory? I don't know.
As for what you said: Why does the Internet think that Ma Long is the best golfer in history, more than Lao Wa? I can only say that many loyal fans of Lao Wa are already old, and many of them may not be able to go online, in fact, there are still many people who will vote for Lao Wa.
The GOAT selection varies from person to person, so I would like to share the three dimensions of my evaluation of a player's status: record, technical and tactical contribution, and sports promotion contribution.
1. Achievements - need to be combined with the background of the times
Waldner: The first table tennis Grand Slam in history
Ma Long: The first men's table tennis double slam in history, only one Olympic singles gold medal away from three laps
In my personal evaluation system, the record of the three major tournaments is one of the core factors in evaluating the status of players. Team champions and doubles champions stand aside and just watch the singles!
If there is no Grand Slam, it will definitely be difficult to rank in the top five, unless Wang Liqin and Wang Hao Ma Lin are outstanding in some way. If there is not a single champion in the three major tournaments, then you can only queue up outside the door!
Statistically speaking. In this round, Ma Long defeated Lao Wa, after all, he was a man with 8 singles world champions. So, that's the core argument of the fans who think Malone is the best in history, but they also only see this layer, not what is behind it.
What I said behind it is the background of the times, specifically the difficulty of winning the three major competitions, just look at the opponent!
Ma Long's opponents in the singles finals of the three major tournaments:
In the 2015 Suzhou World Table Tennis Championships, the opponent in the final was Fang Bo, which was very powerful, but the coffee position was obviously not top.
In the 2015 World Cup, the opponent in the final was Fan Zhendong, who was not enough coffee at that time, and he was more stubborn in playing.
In the 2016 Rio Olympics, the final opponent was Zhang Jike, who had enough coffee positions, but he was plagued by injuries and residual blood, and he was easily swept 4-0.
In the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, the final opponent was Fan Zhendong, the ball was good, and it was the most exciting game in the history of the two people, and it was a peak duel.
In the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships, the opponent in the final was Falke, and there was obviously not enough coffee position.
In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the final opponent was Fan Zhendong, and Fan Zhendong still made the mistake of the Suzhou World Table Tennis Championships.
In the 2024 Macau World Cup, the final opponent is Lin Gaoyuan, and to be honest, the coffee position is not the singles world champion.
Lao Wa's three major finalists are: Persson (quasi-Grand Slam), Gai Ting (quasi-Grand Slam), Samsonov, Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang (Grand Slam). The 90s of the last century was the most competitive time for table tennis, and it was also the best time to watch.
Therefore, the era in which Lao Wa lives is far more competitive than that of Ma Long, and the difficulty of winning the championship is not a grade at all. However, Ma Long is really good, and I personally think that Ma Long has won a lot in this round!
2. Technical and tactical innovation
As the king of table tennis, this project gives you the opportunity to become famous and make money, so I think you have the responsibility to take on the promotion of the sport and the innovation of techniques and tactics, and wholeheartedly contribute to the development of this sport. The so-called great man of chivalry is for the country and the people!
In terms of technical and tactical innovation, the most recent major innovation is the straight board and horizontal play. As far as Ma Long is concerned, he didn't come up with too many new things, and he basically inherited and carried forward!
Waldner, the first Waldner grip method, has been popularized by almost all crossboarders, and this technique is basically the only technique named after a person in the history of table tennis.
In addition, Lao Wa effectively combines the delicacy of the first three boards in Asia with the fierceness of the European COSCO platform to become a hexagonal warrior. The first in the history of hair extensions, the style of the ball is invincible, which invisibly attracts countless people to like the sport of table tennis, and makes people see the beauty of table tennis, the beauty of art, and the beauty of philosophy!
In the comparison of this indicator, Lao Wa won completely, and there was no suspense!
3. Sports promotion: global influence
is still the same sentence, you are the leader of the project, and you have gained fame and fortune, so you have the responsibility to promote the sport and take responsibility, especially at present, the development of table tennis in the global world is weak, and Ma Long should think about how to help the global promotion of table tennis!
Up to now, some of the table tennis promotions that Ma Long has participated in are basically arranged by brands and national teams, in fact, they are collectively going through the motions, leaders speaking, and taking pictures...... There is a lack of personal name, from the heart of the in-depth promotion! There is a do, but it is certainly not enough, I personally think that this will also be the direction of his efforts after retirement!
Waldner's promotion of table tennis is rare in the world.
First of all, as mentioned above, his style of play itself is free-spirited, chic, full of artistic taste, and his playing style is very attractive, which has invisibly done a lot of promotion.
In addition, Lao Wa not only promoted table tennis in Sweden, but also traveled to other associations around the world such as China, most of which were promoted in the name of individuals, units, parks, professional teams, uncles and aunts, and Lao Wa had a figure. It is precisely because of this that the nickname of "Lao Wa" is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
In this comparison, Lao Wa wins!
4. The status in the minds of professionals
There is no doubt that the old tile NO.1 in this regard.
Gather the professional athletes of table tennis in the last 50 years, everyone sits together, Lao Wa must sit in the C position, and Ma Long needs to light a cigarette for him, just this status!
Personally, I think that Ma Long wants to improve his status, and after retiring, he can focus on doing some technical and tactical promotion and sports innovation, otherwise he will not be able to rank ahead of Liu Guoliang, after all, Liu Guoliang has made too much contribution to the promotion of table tennis.
Finally, it should be noted that the above is just my personal opinion, and every fan has their own all-time best in their minds. Personally, Lao Wa and Ma Long like it very much, and Ma Long has infinite possibilities!