The Paris 2024 Olympic Games marked a historic milestone for table tennis, drawing over 230,000 spectators across 15 days of competition at the South Paris Arena 4. The venue buzzed with energy as 6,500 fans per session created an electric atmosphere that attracted high-profile sports stars, including football legend Zinedine Zidane and NBA’s star Anthony Edwards.
The Games delivered unforgettable moments for the host nation as Félix Lebrun secured France’s first table tennis Olympic medal in 24 years with his bronze in Men’s Singles, igniting unprecedented celebrations across the packed arena. The French success story continued as they claimed bronze in the Men’s Team event, marking a new golden era for French table tennis.
The competition witnessed numerous groundbreaking achievements: Fan Zhendong achieved a career-defining triumph in Paris, securing men’s singles gold and completing his Grand Slam, whilst Chen Meng joined the elite ranks by securing back-to-back Olympic golds in women’s singles. History was made as 16-year-old Miwa Harimoto became the youngest table tennis medallist with Japan’s silver in the Women’s Team event, and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano became the first player from outside Asia and Europe to reach the men’s singles semifinals.
Sweden celebrated a momentous breakthrough with Truls Moregard’s singles silver medal and the team’s historic silver in the Men’s Team event, ending a 24-year medal drought. The Mixed Doubles event provided its own drama, with China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha claiming the elusive gold that had escaped them in Tokyo, whilst North Korea’s unexpected silver medal created one of the Games’ most touching moments of sporting diplomacy.
The Paralympic Games that followed maintained this extraordinary momentum, showcasing Para table tennis at unprecedented levels. The ten-day competition witnessed several historic achievements: Najlah Imad Al Dayyeni secured Iraq’s first-ever Paralympic medal in Para table tennis – a gold, whilst Japan’s Natsuki Wada claimed the country’s first gold in a women’s event. The Netherlands’ Kelly van Zon and China’s Feng Panfeng continued their remarkable legacies, securing their fourth and fifth consecutive golds respectively.
The Paralympic Games featured touching moments such as French star Fabien Lamirault’s role as one of the final torchbearers in the Opening Ceremony, and breakthrough performances from young talents like Team GB’s 14-year-old Bly Twomey, who secured two bronze medals. The introduction of mixed doubles events and medals won by 31 National Paralympic Committees demonstrated the sport’s growing global reach, with notable successes from emerging programmes in Italy, Thailand, and Cuba’s historic first gold through Yunier Fernandez.
Looking back, Paris 2024 represented a defining moment for table tennis, showcasing the sport’s evolution and global appeal on the world’s biggest stage. From the record-breaking attendance figures to the historic medals for host nation France, from Fan Zhendong’s Grand Slam achievement to groundbreaking Paralympic performances, these Games delivered unforgettable moments that will inspire generations to come. With a global audience witnessing table tennis history, Paris 2024 has set a new benchmark for table tennis at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The passion of the French crowds, the emergence of new stars, and the continuing excellence of established champions combined to create what many consider the most successful Olympic and Paralympic table tennis events to date, leaving a lasting legacy for the sport’s future.
