Deng began playing table tennis aged five, and four years later she won the provincial junior championship.

Despite her success, she was initially denied a spot on the national team because she was so short (she stood only 1.5 metres [4 feet 11 inches] tall).

When she retired at the age of 24, she had won more titles than any other player in this sport, including four Olympic gold medals, and had been World Champion 18 times.

She was voted Chinese female athlete of the century, and joined the International Table Tennis Federation Hall of Fame in 2003.

Deng is still deeply involved with the national Chinese table tennis scene and frequently speaks to the media.

[3] After retiring at the end of the 1997 season, Deng served on the International Olympic Committee's ethics and athletes commissions.