The contrasts could hardly be greater. On Sunday, he defeated the great Swedish talent Truls Möregårdh and secured Olympic gold in table tennis. He showed up in China’s colours, a gaze with laser focus and in the interview zone afterwards he was anything but talkative. THE MAN: Zhendong became Olympic champion on Sunday. Photo: WANG ZHAO / AFP A few months ago, Fan Zhendong filmed himself at a Taylor Swift concert in Singapore. The Chinese was wearing both a T-shirt, headgear and bracelet in honor of the artist. The film clip showed, among other things, that he sang at the top of his lungs to one of the superstar’s popular songs, but the 27-year-old’s attendance at the concert was to prove to be anything but popular in his home country. He simply had to go out and defend himself. IN COSTUME: The table tennis star posed in a t-shirt from the Red album and friendship bracelets from Swift’s Midnights album. TOP TO TOE: The headpiece was from Taylor Swift’s Reputation era. CRUEL SUMMER: The 27-year-old sang loudly to the hit Cruel Summer. – I’m just an ordinary man Zhendong was in Singapore to play a table tennis tournament, and a few days after the concert he passed out. The critics thought the Taylor Swift show was to blame. Heng Zhu, journalist at Beijing Radio and TV (BRTV), talks to news after the Olympic final in Paris: – I heard about it there, and I don’t think the concert was a big problem. Especially not now that he has won Olympic gold, says Zhu. IT’S NICE TO HAVE A FRIEND: Journalist Heng Zhu defends the table tennis player. Photo: Anders Boine Verstad / news But the criticism was actually so fierce that Zhendong himself came out and defended himself. – I am just an ordinary man, he wrote, according to The Guardian. – I have normal leisure interests, I have a social network, and I will continue to be true to myself, the message continued. The criticism was that Zhendong did not have his priorities in order. He won’t hear any of that. – I am an athlete who fights for my country, and I have not been sloppy with anything for over ten years, said the message he published when it stormed. I DID SOMETHING BAD: The 27-year-old did not let himself be enticed into a Taylor Swift chat after the Olympic gold. New Swift message Journalist Heng Zhu believes that athletes also deserve to be able to enjoy themselves in their spare time. – Zhendong is also a big fan of Real Madrid. And he is a superfan of Cristiano Ronaldo, he points out. – We must allow him to have hobbies. I don’t want people to bother him about it, says the Chinese journalist. news thus tried to get Zhendong to speak about the concert criticism, but without success. Shortly after, he still posted this message on social media, according to Pop Base: GOLD RUSH: Zhendong published a new Taylor Swift message right after the gold. Photo: Screenshot He therefore added the Swift song “The Alchemy” and wrote “finally”. The song title refers to the process that turns metal into gold. And gold will therefore be brought home to China. This is the duo’s secret weapon – Photos from Max 00:22 Out of the Olympics after “equipment trouble” 00:58 French hero made the hall boil 01:10 The 51-year-old has gone viral after this 00:38 Show more Published 05/08/2024, at 17.48 Updated 05.08.2024, at 18.22
ttn-69
Table tennis star Fan Zhendong criticized for prioritizing Taylor Swift – Paris 2024 Olympics
