Chinese · Harbin, Heilongjiang, China · Born 18 October 1975Chinese table tennis player nicknamed the 'Prince of Table Tennis,' who became the third player in history to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup.
Kong Linghui was born on 18 October 1975 in Harbin, Heilongjiang, and joined China's national junior team in 1987 before an unprecedented move by Chinese coaches sent the teenager to Sweden to learn the European shakehand style, in an effort to counter the era's dominant Swedish and other European players. He returned in 1993 and rose rapidly, reaching world number one by December 1995 after winning his first World Championship singles title that year in Tianjin. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Kong won gold in men's doubles partnered with Liu Guoliang. He returned at the 2000 Sydney Olympics to reach the singles final against the legendary Jan-Ove Waldner, and after Kong built a two-game lead that Waldner clawed back to level the match, he held his nerve in the decisive fifth game to win gold - a result widely seen as symbolizing the passing of the torch from the old master to the new. That victory completed a career Grand Slam of singles titles across the Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup, making Kong only the third player in history to achieve the feat. Kong competed at a third Olympics in 2004 before retiring in 2006, finishing with eight World Championship gold medals across singles, doubles, and team events. He transitioned into coaching, leading China's national women's team to Olympic team gold at the 2016 Rio Games, and served as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association from 2018 and chairman of the WTT Council from 2020. His coaching tenure ended abruptly in 2017 when he was suspended amid a lawsuit over an unpaid casino debt in Singapore, though he denied the debt stemmed from personal gambling.
Becoming the third player in history to complete a career Grand Slam, capped by defeating Jan-Ove Waldner in a dramatic five-game Olympic final in 2000
How They Played
Versatile shakehand player equally strong on both forehand and backhand, blending disciplined defense with sharp attacking instincts modeled on top European stylists
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the most complete table tennis players in history, whose victory over Waldner symbolized a generational shift in the sport, though his later coaching career was overshadowed by controversy
Career Honours
- 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (1996 Doubles, 2000 Singles)
- Career Grand Slam (Olympics, World Championships, World Cup) - 3rd player in history
- 8x World Championship Gold Medalist
- 1995 World Cup Champion
Chinese Athletes