Zhang Jike: the champion who completed the Grand Slam in 15 months
Zhang Jike is a retired Chinese table tennis player born in Qingdao in 1988. He was world singles champion in 2011 and 2013, won the World Cup in 2011 and 2014 and took Olympic singles gold at London 2012, completing the Grand Slam in just over a year. He was famous for his aggressive backhand and his fiery celebrations.
In this article
Few players have had a peak as concentrated as Zhang Jike's. Between 2011 and 2012, he went from promising young player to holder of the sport's three biggest individual titles: the World Championships, the World Cup and the Olympics. He did it with an aggressive style and a backhand that helped shape how modern table tennis is played.
This page covers Zhang Jike's career, his titles, his playing style and what defined his time at the top.
Who is Zhang Jike
Zhang Jike was born on February 16, 1988, in Qingdao, in China's Shandong province. He is right-handed and plays with the shakehand grip. He started as a child and went through years of development before securing his place on the Chinese national team in the late 2000s.
For a while he lived in the shadow of teammates like Wang Hao and Ma Long. The turning point came in 2011.
The Grand Slam in 15 months
In May 2011, at the World Championships in Rotterdam, Zhang Jike beat Wang Hao in the final to become world singles champion for the first time. Later that year he won the World Cup. And in August 2012, in London, he beat Wang Hao again in the Olympic final.
That completed his Grand Slam: World Championships, World Cup and Olympic singles titles. He was the fourth man to do it, after Jan-Ove Waldner, Liu Guoliang and Kong Linghui, and did it in about 15 months, one of the fastest routes to the Grand Slam in the history of the sport.
Zhang Jike's titles
| Event | Results |
|---|---|
| Olympics | Singles and team gold at London 2012, team gold and singles silver at Rio 2016 |
| World Championships singles | Champion in 2011 (Rotterdam) and 2013 (Paris) |
| World Cup singles | Champion in 2011 and 2014 |
At Rio 2016 he reached the Olympic singles final again and lost to Ma Long, taking silver. At the same Games he won his second Olympic team gold.
The backhand that defined a generation
Zhang Jike is a two-winged attacker, but the backhand is his signature. He could attack with his backhand balls that most players would only push back, including short balls over the table.
He is one of the players most associated with popularizing the sidespin backhand flick, known as the banana flick. With it, the receiver attacks a short serve right away instead of pushing it. Today it is standard at the elite level, and the technique is explained in banana flick. For the basic stroke, see table tennis flick.
Other traits of his style:
- Fast counterattacks close to the table, taking time away from the opponent.
- Mental toughness in finals, with a very confident presence.
- Big celebrations, which became part of his image.
The famous celebrations
Zhang Jike was known for his celebrations. After the 2011 world title he ripped his shirt. In 2013 he jumped the court barriers to celebrate with his family. At the 2014 World Cup he kicked the advertising boards around the court after winning, and the ITTF fined him the amount of his prize money. The ITTF used the money to fund a fair play award. The episode is still brought up as an example of where the line is when celebrating in sport.
After Rio 2016
After Rio 2016, back and hip injuries cut down Zhang Jike's appearances on the tour, and he did not play another Olympics. He is remembered as one of the great champions of the era when China had Ma Long, Wang Hao and Zhang Jike at the top at the same time. To understand that team strength, read why China dominates table tennis.
Frequently asked questions
Did Zhang Jike win Olympic gold?
Yes. He won singles gold at London 2012, beating Wang Hao in the final, and also has two Olympic team golds, from 2012 and 2016.
How many world titles does Zhang Jike have?
Two world singles titles, in 2011 in Rotterdam and in 2013 in Paris.
Why is Zhang Jike famous for his backhand?
He attacked with his backhand balls that most players only pushed back, including short serves, and he is one of the names most linked to popularizing the banana flick.
Why was Zhang Jike fined in 2014?
After winning the 2014 World Cup he kicked the advertising boards around the court while celebrating. The ITTF fined him his prize money and used it for a fair play award.