On the night of January 1st, 2025, at 1 AM, Fan Zhendong did something incredibly exciting. While the turmoil with WTT had not yet subsided and everyone assumed that after his withdrawal from the world rankings and defeat in the table tennis league, things would gradually calm down, he unexpectedly threw a massive stone into the pond by sharing Taylor Swift's "Mean" on social media, which was completely unexpected.
Why was it surprising? Because in the newly released world rankings by WTT, Fan Zhendong's name was no longer present, and it seemed like he was about to be marginalized from the mainstream stage of the table tennis world. Moreover, just that afternoon, he lost 1-3 to Wang Chuqin in the table tennis league, causing an immediate flood of doubts and criticisms from the outside world.
But is Fan Zhendong someone who can be easily defeated? Obviously not. He initiated a unique "counterattack" by releasing a song, which was very personal and truly deserving of our affectionate nickname for him, "Little Fatty."
Fan Zhendong's move was extremely clever; the background of the song he chose closely resembled his current situation. Just as Taylor Swift once faced malicious criticism from music critics, Fan Zhendong was also accused of violating rules.
When Fan Zhendong shared the song, he captioned it with "Who says those covered in mud are not heroes," clearly declaring that he would not be brought down by rumors and gossip. Even when mired in public opinion and exhausted, he firmly believed in his own worth. This kind of perseverance, akin to a hero's unwavering spirit in adversity, is admirable.
Let's talk about the lyrics of the song Fan Zhendong chose, which are quite sharp, with each line seemingly firing back at those who question him. "You're a fence-sitter, swaying both ways," clearly retaliating against those who blindly follow the crowd in their doubts, saying it too aptly, as those people don't understand the truth but join in the clamor.
There's also "addicted to lying, bringing shame upon yourself," mercilessly exposing the hypocrisy of unfounded statements, making those people feel ashamed. The most satisfying part is "One day, I will live in an ancient metropolis, while you will only become more and more bitter and sarcastic," showing great momentum and fully demonstrating Fan Zhendong's confidence in the future.
He believes that as long as he works hard, he will surely break through the gloom and reach even greater heights, while the attackers can only remain trapped in place, continuing to be bitter and sarcastic. From these lyrics, we can see Fan Zhendong's inner strength and determination; he will not be intimidated by external pressure but will bravely forge ahead.
Fan Zhendong's voice has won unanimous praise from netizens. In everyone's eyes, he is not only a champion on the court but also a warrior in life. He dares to face unreasonable rules head-on, unafraid of the immense external pressure, embodying the Olympic spirit of pursuing excellence, tenacious struggle, and fairness.
Many netizens expressed their fondness for Fan Zhendong's bold and decisive character, and this voice of his allowed everyone to see his courage and sense of responsibility. Some say that athletes are ordinary people too, and in the face of many injustices, they naturally have the right to choose their own way to express themselves. As one netizen said, "This brave attitude of standing up and speaking out is the reason why we like Fan Zhendong."
Indeed, Fan Zhendong demonstrated his persistence and beliefs through his actions. We believe that he will go further and further on his future path, with a brighter tomorrow ahead, after all, the glory of Paris is already behind him.