In an extraordinary display of dominance, China’s Feng Panfeng secured his fifth consecutive gold medal in the Class 3 Men’s singles event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, defeating long-time rival Germany’s Thomas Schmidberger. This victory solidifies Feng’s place as one of the most decorated Para table tennis players in history, bringing his total Paralympic gold medal count to an astounding ten.
Feng’s triumph at Paris 2024 marks his fifth Paralympic appearance, and his performance at these Games has been nothing short of historic. In addition to his singles title, Feng claimed two more golds in the Class 7 mixed doubles and Class 8 men’s doubles events. His remarkable success cements his legacy as a trailblazer in the sport.
‘I didn’t think that I could get my 10th Paralympic gold medal. Ten gold medals is also my goal. I will continue to improve and add more new things in my technical skill, so that my opponents can’t understand.’
The final against Schmidberger was a high-stakes encounter, as the two have faced each other multiple times over their careers. Paris 2024 marked their third showdown in the Class 3 men’s singles final at the Paralympics, and their 21st career meeting overall. Their rivalry, which began in 2007, has been a defining narrative in Para table tennis. Feng has held the upper hand, but Schmidberger has been one of the few players able to challenge him, handing Feng his last international defeat back in 2018.Since that loss, Feng has remained unbeaten in the singles on the international stage, dominating every match and tournament he has participated in.
In the final, Schmidberger fought valiantly, but Feng controlled the match from start to finish, winning the gold in a decisive 3-0 match, securing his fifth straight gold in the event and further extending his reign over the Class 3 Men’s Singles category.
As the Paris 2024 Paralympics approach their conclusion, Feng’s incredible achievement stands out as one of the highlights of the Games. With his ten Paralympic golds and an unbeaten record stretching back six years, Feng’s legacy is firmly established as one of the greatest Para table tennis athletes in history.
While Feng basks in his triumph, the excitement continues at the Paralympics, with 12 more gold medals set to be awarded over the final two days. Fans can look forward to even more memorable moments as the world’s top Paralympic athletes compete for glory.
