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Athlete
Top 10 Chinese Sports Heroes
From Yao Ming's NBA dominance to Deng Yaping's four Olympic table tennis golds, China's greatest athletes have redefined what is possible on the world stage. Explore our ranked list of the ten greatest Chinese athletes of all time — then cast your vote and share your pick for China's ultimate sporting hero.
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Frequently Asked Questions About China's Greatest Sports Heroes
Who is China's most decorated Olympic athlete? Wu Minxia holds the record with five consecutive Olympic gold medals in synchronised diving (2004–2016), making her the most decorated Chinese Olympian in history.
Which Chinese athlete had the greatest global impact? Yao Ming is widely credited with the largest international footprint — his NBA career opened the Chinese market to basketball and paved the way for a generation of Asian players.
Has China ever won a Grand Slam tennis title? Yes. Li Na won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
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