Li Xiaoxia has been known in China as "Ms. No. 2," partly for table tennis matches she has lost to Ding Ning, including the final in last year's world championship. That's no more.
Li won the gold medal in an upset victory over her teammate Ding on Wednesday.
Li was asked several times if the victory erased her No. 2 status. Her reply was muted and a throwback to a time when Chinese athletes seldom spoke to reporters.
"There is no second," she said. "Everyone is first."
— Stephen Wade — Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP
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