Sun Yingsha and Gu Ailing Make TIME’s Inaugural Sports List
Chinese table tennis star Sun Yingsha and freestyle skiing champion Gu Ailing have been named to TIME magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Sports list, the publication’s first-ever ranking of the 100 most influential figures in global sports. Released on June 9, 2026, the list recognizes athletes, executives, owners, and media personalities who are shaping the sports landscape worldwide.
Sun Yingsha, 25, is the only table tennis player on the list, featured in the “Innovators” (先锋) category. Gu Ailing, 22, appears in the “Icons” (偶像) category. Their inclusion makes them the only two Chinese athletes on the 100-person list, underscoring China’s growing influence in global sports while also sparking discussion about broader Chinese representation.
A Historic First for TIME
The TIME100 Sports list marks the first time TIME has published a standalone sports influence ranking, separate from its flagship TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people. The list spans six categories: Icons, Titans, Innovators, Leaders, Pioneers, and Phenoms. Notable honorees include LeBron James (cover), Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Stephen Curry, Shohei Ohtani, Caitlin Clark, and Victor Wembanyama.
According to TIME’s press release, TIME CEO Jessica Sibley said: “The inaugural TIME100 Sports list recognizes individuals who are not only excelling in their fields, but also shaping culture, expanding opportunity, and influencing the world far beyond competition.”
TIME will host the first-ever TIME100 Sports Gala on July 16, 2026, in New York City, featuring appearances from list members including LeBron James, Jordan Chiles, and Lindsey Vonn.
Sun Yingsha: The Defining Player of Her Generation
Sun Yingsha, nicknamed “ShaSha” (莎莎), has been described by TIME as “the defining player of her generation” and “one of the greatest table-tennis athletes of all time.” Writing for TIME, Charlie Campbell highlighted her “speed, anticipation, backhand counterattacks, and composure under pressure.”
Born in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, Sun won three medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics — women’s team gold, mixed doubles gold, and women’s singles silver — helping China sweep all five golds for the first time. She further cemented her dominance in 2026 by winning the Women’s World Cup in Macao, becoming the first woman to claim three consecutive World Cup singles titles.
Sun has been world No. 1 for more than 200 consecutive weeks, a record in the modern rankings era. She was the first player to break 10,000 points in the ITTF ranking system and has amassed 20 world championship titles. The World Table Tennis (WTT) organization has designated her a “Megastar” — one of only four globally alongside Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, and Roger Federer.
“My biggest wish on the court is to show everyone a better version of myself,” Sun said in a 2025 interview quoted by TIME.
Gu Ailing: Icon and Trailblazer
Gu Ailing (Eileen Gu), the 22-year-old Stanford student, runway model, and freestyle skiing champion, appears in the “Icons” category. As TIME noted, she is the “only action-sport athlete to win three medals apiece at two Olympic Games” — Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026.
Gu’s career totals include three Olympic golds and three Olympic silvers, making her the most decorated female freeskier in history. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, she won gold in the halfpipe and silvers in slopestyle and big air. When a journalist asked whether she viewed her two silvers as medals gained or lost, Gu responded: “I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history. I think it’s kind of a ridiculous perspective to take.”
Gu has been a subject of both fascination and criticism since she announced at age 15 that she would represent China — where her mother grew up — rather than the United States, where she was born and raised. She has maintained that she skis for China to inspire women and girls there to take up winter sports, and participation data indicates that goal is being realized.
Significance and Reactions
Sun Yingsha’s inclusion is particularly notable because table tennis, despite being one of the world’s most participated sports, has historically received less recognition in Western media rankings compared to sports like soccer, basketball, or tennis. Her placement alongside global superstars signals growing visibility for the sport.
As reported by Xinhua News, Chinese state media celebrated the recognition, with Sun being described as “the benchmark figure of active table tennis.” However, some Chinese netizens expressed disappointment that other notable Chinese athletes — particularly male table tennis player Wang Chuqin and swimmer Pan Zhanle — were not included. Sina Sports ran a headline questioning why only two Chinese athletes made the list.
What’s Next
Both athletes are at the peak of their careers. Sun Yingsha continues to dominate the table tennis world rankings, while Gu Ailing balances her athletic career with her studies at Stanford and her work as a fashion model. It remains to be seen whether either will attend the TIME100 Sports Gala in New York on July 16.
The inaugural TIME100 Sports list sets a precedent for future editions. As the first standalone sports ranking from TIME, it signals the growing cultural and economic power of global sports — and China’s increasingly prominent role within it.