"Swifties will support him forever" - Fans react as Olympics star Fan Zhendong shares Taylor Swift song after winning a gold medal

China’s table tennis star Fan Zhendong won Swifties’ hearts as he shared one of Taylor Swift’s songs after his gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday. Zhendong, 27, celebrated his 4-1 victory against Sweden’s Truls Möregårdh and his men’s singles title by posting Taylor’s The Alchemy from The Tortured Poets’ Department on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

One of the Clean singer’s fan pages on X shared a screenshot of Zhendong’s post where the athlete wrote:

"Finally touch down🥇"

This is not the first time Fan Zhendong has expressed his regard for Swift. The table tennis star previously expressed his love for the artist. He described Taylor Swift as a “great musician” and heaped praises on her for providing her fans with “confidence” and “healing power”. Zhendong said:

"Music is universal…I hope everyone can feel the charm from her."

Zhendong’s post after Sunday's game began trending on Weibo and it soon made the rounds on X. Taylor Swift’s fans extended their support and congratulatory messages to the world champion while showering their admiration on him.

"Our best Ping Pong warrior. Swifties will support him forever", wrote one fan.

"lifetime supply of tayblessings for this king", said another.

"see how gold medalists are always swifties", wrote one person.

"It’s giving taste", complimented another fan.

Some Swifties noted Spotify streams for The Alchemy would have increased by a huge number had the platform been officially available in China.

"i wish spotify had china cause our streams would be so huge", wrote one Swifty.

"If only Spotify was available in China then the streams for Taylor songs would be insane and if she toured in china then omggg her tour numbers would be so much up", chimed in another.

"Damn The Alchemy supremacy", commented one X user.

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Fan Zhendong also attended Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert

Soon after Fan Zhendong's post with Taylor Swift's song started trending online, video clips of the sportsman enjoying himself at one of the singer's Eras Tour concert shows resurfaced.

Taylor performed at the National Stadium of Singapore in Kallang on March 2. Zhendong shared a post on Instagram on March 10, where he recorded himself on the day of Taylor's show.

On his way to the venue, Zhendong filmed himself as he sported a 'Reputation' cap and multiple friendship bracelets on his wrist. The video then cut to the table tennis star enthusiastically belting out the famed Cruel Summer bridge word-to-word.

Although Zhendong’s love for Taylor Swift is now gaining him a massive recognition among Swifties, back in March, he faced some criticism after losing a match. Zhendong was defeated by 18-year-old Lin Shidong at Singapore’s World Table Tennis (WTT) Grand Smash.

Due to the loss, the table tennis star could not qualify to the next rounds which eventually took away his chance to compete for the world champion title.

Many said Zhendong lost the match because he was distracted after attending Taylor Swift's concert.

According to South China Morning Post, Fan Zhendong later responded to the negative remarks on Weibo and claimed he got the ticket to the concert from a second-hand MARKET. Zhendong addressed his defeat at the Singapore game:

"I am an athlete cultivated by my country. It’s my duty to fight for the country and I’ve never slacked on this for more than 10 years."

Fan Zhendong explained he was only an “ordinary young man” when he is not playing professional table tennis, and like any other young person, he has his hobbies and his own social circle.

However, the athlete asserted he would continue to listen to his heart while also following "the law and the rules".