Deng Yaping won four Olympic gold medals between 1992 and 2000.
She won women’s singles and women’s doubles gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, then successfully defended both titles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Her doubles partner at both Games was Qiao Hong.
Deng was only about 1.50 metres tall, but her compact build, fast footwork, powerful forehand, and aggressive close-to-the-table style made her one of the sport’s most successful players. She was also a four-time world singles champion and won several world team titles with China.
The four Olympic golds were earned across two events and two Olympic Games, rather than four singles championships. Deng retired from international competition in 1997, before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, so she did not add to her Olympic total there. Her achievements helped make her a major figure in China and an enduring example of elite performance despite her relatively short stature.