Lin Dan is a Chinese badminton player who is regarded as one of the all-time great singles players. By the age of 28, he had won all nine major badminton titles: Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, Super Series Masters Finals, All England Open, Asian Games, and Asian Championships. He is now the only player to have accomplished this accomplishment, and many believe him to be the greatest badminton player to ever grace the sport. Peter Gade has dubbed the player “Super Dan,” and he certainly lives up to his moniker. He is not only a two-time Olympic champion, but he is also the first men’s singles player to win the Olympic gold medal twice, in 2008 and 2012. Given his incredible achievement, it’s no wonder that he became interested in badminton at a young age. He began playing the sport at the age of five and got professional as a teenager. He is well-known not just for his exceptional playing abilities, but also for his fiery demeanor and furious outbursts, which have made him a divisive figure. His colorful demeanor, stellar badminton records, and “Bad Boy” reputation have made him a hugely popular sports icon.
Childhood and Adolescence
He was born to Gao Xiuyu and Lin Jianbin on October 14, 1983, in Longyan, Fujian, China.
His parents wanted him to learn piano when he was younger. Lin Dan, on the other hand, was more interested in badminton and began playing at the age of five.
He joined the People’s Liberation Army’s sports troop at the age of 13 and began playing for China’s national badminton team at the age of 18.
lin Dan’s Career
He won both the team and boys’ singles events at the Asian Junior Championships in 2000. He was also a member of the World Junior Championships winning team in 2000.
He was a member of China’s 2002 Thomas Cup team, which advanced to the semifinals after defeating Sweden, Denmark, and Korea. However, he was unable to participate in the pivotal semifinal, which his team ultimately lost.
In 2003, he made his debut in the World Championships in Birmingham, England. He defeated Per-Henrik Croona and Przemysaw Wacha in the first two rounds but was defeated by Xia in the third round.
He had a successful year in 2004. In February, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranked him No. 1 for the first time. He won both the Swiss and the All England Opens. In the same year, he also advanced to the semifinals of the Japan Open.
In late 2004, his meteoric rise came to an abrupt halt. He was eliminated from the Olympic Games early after losing in the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Open.
In 2005, he came back to retain his global No. 1 status. He regained his former form, winning the German and Hong Kong Opens, as well as the Japan Open, China Masters, and World Cup competitions. Despite his achievements, he was unable to defend his All England title and was defeated by Chen Hong.
He won the All England Open, the Chinese Taipei Open, the Macau Open, the Hong Kong Open, and the Japan Open in 2006. He also competed in the German Open and the China Open, however, he did not win either event.
In 2007, he won the All England Championship for the second time, and he also won the German Open. He was a member of the Sudirman Cup team that won the competition by defeating Indonesia 3-0. He also won the China Masters title in 2007.
The 2008 season began with a contentious encounter in which Lin had a disagreement with South Korea’s coach in the Korea Open final, which he ultimately lost. However, the year was a memorable one for him because he won gold in the men’s singles event at the Olympic Games.
He was a member of the side that won the Sudirman Cup in 2009, guiding China to a 5-0 victory over England. The Chinese squad was in excellent form and won the Cup for the third time in a row with ease.
Following his first Asian Games gold medal in 2010, he became the first Asian player to win all of the current major badminton titles, both solo, and national teams.
After a waist injury in 2010, he began to have troubles. Despite this, he continued to perform admirably. He competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal in men’s singles, making him the first men’s singles player to win the Olympic title twice.
Due to his injuries, his ranking and performance fell greatly, and he only made one appearance in 2013—at the Badminton Asia Championships. However, due to lingering health issues, he was unable to play all of the games and withdrew from the championship after reaching the third round.
He is the first and only player to win all nine major badminton titles: Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, Super Series Masters Finals, All England Open, Asian Games, and Asian Championships.
Achievements and Awards
In 2006 and 2007, he was named Eddie Choong Player of the Year for two years in a row.
During the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, he was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Personal History and Legacy
In 2003, he began dating Xie Xingfang, a former world champion badminton player. The couple first kept their relationship a secret until they got engaged in 2010. On September 23, 2012, they married.
He is well-known for his numerous tattoos, which have often sparked debate.
Estimated Net worth
Unknown.