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Lin Dan
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Key Information
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| Lin Dan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 林丹 | ||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 林丹 | ||||||||
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Lin Dan (Chinese: 林丹; born 14 October 1983)[1] is a Chinese former professional badminton player. He is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, five-time World Championships gold medalist, two-time World Cup champion, two-time Asian Games gold medalist, four-time Asian Champion, as well as a six-time All England champion. He led China to victory 5 times at the Sudirman Cup, 6 times at the Thomas Cup, and 3 times at the Asian Games men's team event.
Widely regarded as the greatest badminton player of all time,[3][4][5] by the age of 28 Lin had completed the "Super Grand Slam", having won the full set of all nine major titles in the badminton world of his time: Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, Year-end Finals, Asian Games, and Asian Championships, becoming the third player to achieve this feat after Ge Fei and Gu Jun, and the only male player to ever achieve this feat.[6][7] Of the 9 major events, he had won at least 2 of each events except the Year-end Finals where he won once in his only time participating in that event. He also became the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal by winning in 2008 and successfully defending his title in 2012.[8]
Lin was dubbed "Super Dan" by opponent Peter Gade after winning the 2004 All England Open final, and the nickname has since been widely used by his fans as well as the media to refer to him, in recognition of his achievements.[9][10] He was inducted to BWF Badminton Hall of Fame on 26 May 2023.[11]
Early life
[edit]Lin was born in Fujian, China. At a young age, Lin was encouraged to learn to play the piano by his parents, and to be a pianist. However, he chose to play badminton instead. Having started his training at the age of five, he was scouted by the People's Liberation Army Sports Team after winning the National Junior Championships aged twelve, and was enlisted into the Chinese National Badminton Team in 2001, when he was 18.[12][13][14]
Career
[edit]Junior events
[edit]Lin emerged as a winner in the 2000 Asian Junior Championships in both the team and the singles events.[15] He was also a member of the winning Chinese team and a boys' singles semi-finalist in the 2000 World Junior Championships.[16][17]
2001–2003: Senior debut and Four tour titles
[edit]2001 marked the start of then 18 year-old Lin's professional career. In his first final, at the Asian Championships, he was thrashed by compatriot Xia Xuanze.[18] He then entered his first final in the IBF Grand Prix event at the Denmark Open, losing to Bao Chunlai.[19]
In 2002, Lin took his first title at the Korea Open.[20] He was a member of China's 2002 Thomas Cup squad which defeated Sweden (5–0),[21] Denmark (3–2),[22] and South Korea (4–1) to reach the semi-finals.[23] However, Lin didn't play in the semi-final tie against Malaysia, which saw China's team tumble to a 1–3 defeat.[24] Lin participated in another four tournaments without coming close to victory. He was knocked out in the first round of the Singapore,[25] and Indonesia Opens,[26] second round of the Denmark Open,[27] and third round of the China Open.[28] In October, Lin was defeated in the semi-finals of the Asian Games team competition which ended China's hope of a team gold medal.[29]
Lin started the 2003 season with a third round defeat in the All England Open.[30] He reached a final later in the year at the Japan Open but was beaten by his compatriot Xia Xuanze once again.[31] Lin then made his inaugural debut in the World Championships in Birmingham, England. He breezed past Per-Henrik Croona and Przemysław Wacha in the first two rounds, but was beaten by Xia again in his third round match.[32] After the world meet, he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Singapore Open,[33] third round of the Indonesia Open,[34] and second round of the Malaysia Open.[35] However, Lin ended the season strongly by capturing the Denmark,[36] Hong Kong,[37] and China Opens,[38] and finishing runner-up at the German Open.[39]
2004: World #1, All England and Thomas Cup champions
[edit]Lin had a good start to 2004, earning the BWF's number one world ranking for the first time in February. He helped China win the qualifying round of Thomas Cup and then captured the Swiss Open.[40][41] He won his first ever All England Open title by beating Peter Gade in the final.[42] He reached the semi-final of the Japan Open before going off to Jakarta, Indonesia in May for the Thomas Cup campaign.[43]
In Thomas Cup, Lin helped China to an excellent start in which they thrashed United States and defending champion Indonesia 5–0 respectively to enter the quarter-finals.[44] Lin then defeated Shoji Sato and Lee Hyun-il in quarter and semi-finals ties against Japan and South Korea respectively, each ending in 3–0 wins for China.[45][46] In the final, he beat Peter Gade in straight games to give China the lead before the Chinese team eventually won three matches to one. China thus took the crown, ending a 14 years drought in the tournament.[47]
Lin suffered setbacks later in the 2004 season when he was ousted in the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open,[48] and was reported to have a leg injury in mid-July, prior to the Olympic Games.[49] Lin "crashed" in his first Olympic Games when, as the first seed, he was ousted early by Singapore's Ronald Susilo, who claimed Lin was "too eager to win".[50][51] However, Lin bounced back with three titles at the Denmark,[52] German,[53] and China Opens,[54] and ended the season as a semi-finalist at the Indonesia Open.[55]
2005: Sudirman and World Cup success
[edit]Lin retained his number one world ranking during 2005, winning his second German and Hong Kong Open titles,[56][57] as well as the Japan Open, China Masters, and World Cup tournaments.[58][59][60][61] He also helped China recapture the Sudirman Cup (combined men's and women's team championship) when it shut-out both defending champion South Korea in the semi-finals and Indonesia in the final.[62][63]
Lin failed to retain his All England title, losing a three set final to teammate Chen Hong,[64] and he was beaten in the final of the Malaysia Open by another rising star, Lee Chong Wei.[65] In his bid to capture his first BWF World title at Anaheim California, he beat Kennevic Asuncion, Shoji Sato, Lee Hyun-il, and Peter Gade in succession to reach the final.[66][67][68] There he was decisively beaten by a peak-form Taufik Hidayat.[69] Lin was also eliminated in the semi-finals of the Singapore Open and the quarter-finals of the China Open.[70]
2006: World Champion, Second All England and Thomas Cup triumph
[edit]Lin started the season by reaching the semi-finals of the German Open,[71] and had a same result in China Masters and China Open.[72][73] He failed to win the Malaysia Open in June, which saw his opponent Lee Chong Wei produce a superb display to save the title after being 13–20 down in the deciding game,[74] and also lost to Taufik Hidayat in Asian Games final.[75]
However, he won six individual titles in the season. He recaptured the All England Open,[76] and won the Chinese Taipei,[77] Macau,[78] Hong Kong,[79] and Japan Opens.[80] Most significantly, in Madrid, Spain that September he won his first world title after beating his compatriot Bao Chunlai in the final.[81]
In May, Lin and his teammates had extended China's Thomas Cup reign by shutting out Denmark 3–0 for a second consecutive title.[82] In October, he won his second World Cup men's singles title.[83]
2007: Consecutive World title, Third All England and Second Sudirman Cup
[edit]Lin Dan entered 2007 with a loss to South Korea's Park Sung-hwan in the round of 16 at the Malaysia Open.[84] A week later, he captured the Korea Open by defeating Chinese teammate Chen Jin in the final.[85] He went on to win the German Open[86] and then the All England championships again, crushing compatriot Chen Yu 21–13, 21–12.[87] In June, Lin Dan was part of the Chinese Sudirman Cup team that retained the cup after beating Indonesia 3–0 in the final at Glasgow, Scotland.[88] Later in the season Lin defeated Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia and became the China Masters champion for 2007.[89] In August, Lin extended his reign as the World Champion when he beat Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21–11, 22–20 in the final of the tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[90] Lin Dan thus became the first man since Yang Yang to win back to back World Championships. He then won his third Denmark Open title,[91] and ended the year by claiming his fourth Hong Kong Open title.[92]
2008: Olympic gold, Third Thomas Cup and Controversies
[edit]
Lin started the season with a defeat in the final of the Korea Open to Lee Hyun-il.[93] It was a match filled with controversy as Lin had a scuffle with South Korea's coach Li Mao after a line call dispute. Lin refused to apologise and received no punishment from Badminton World Federation (BWF) after its probe of the altercation.[94][95] In March, he suffered another defeat to his compatriot Chen Jin in the final of the All England Open,[96] which was followed by press accusations that Lin "gave" the match to Chen in order to increase Chen's ranking points for Olympic qualification (which placed stringent limits on the number of participants from any one country).[97] In the following week, Lin won his first Swiss Open.[98] At the Asian Championships, Lin was again accused of helping his compatriot when his loss to Chen Jin in the semi-finals ensured Chen's qualification for the Olympic Games.[99]
On 10 April 2008, Lin was involved in yet another controversy when he struck coach Ji Xinpeng in front of his teammates and the media during an intra-squad tournament prior to the Thomas Cup. The incident was allegedly triggered by his unhappiness with Ji's arrangement of the starting line-up for the tournament.[100] Despite the episode, in May Lin proceeded to win each match he played in the Thomas Cup until China's semi-finals clash with Malaysia when he lost rather tamely to Lee Chong Wei. However, China still managed to reach the final by edging Malaysia 3–2,[101] then retained the cup against South Korea with Lin's win at first singles helping China to a 3–1 victory.[102]
Lin won the Thailand Open, his last tournament before the 2008 Olympic Games.[103]
In the Beijing Olympic Games, he beat Hong Kong's Ng Wei in the first round,[104] Park Sung-hwan in the second round,[105] and Peter Gade in the quarter-finals.[106] He then beat his teammate Chen Jin in straight sets to set up a "dream" final against Lee Chong Wei.[107] However, the final was a one-sided match as Lin beat Lee 21–12, 21–8, and became the first men's singles player to win the Olympic gold as a first seed.[108]
Not back in action until the China Open in November, Lin again beat Lee in the final,[109] before losing to Chen Jin once again in the Hong Kong Open.[110] Lin was eligible to participate in the lucrative Masters Finals in December, but due to the withdrawal of the whole Chinese contingent (citing weariness and injuries), he didn't take part in the tournament.[111]
2009: Third World and Sudirman Cup titles, Fourth All England
[edit]In March, at his first tournament appearance of 2009, Lin won his fourth All England title without dropping a game, defeating Lee Chong Wei in the final.[112] After this dominant performance, he lost to Lee in the final of Swiss Open a week later.[113]
In May, Lin participated in the Sudirman Cup helping China to consecutive 5–0 victories over England, Japan, and Indonesia.[114][115][116] In the semi-finals against Malaysia Lin defeated Lee Chong Wei in straight games as China advanced to the final against South Korea with another shutout.[117] In the last round the same form held true as Lin beat Park Sung-hwan thus helping China to secure the Cup for the third time in a row, and each time without dropping a match in the series.[118]
During the rest of 2009, Lin dropped only two matches; in June in the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Open,[119] and, perhaps most surprisingly, in the finals of December's East Asian Games in Hong Kong to South Korea's little known Choi Ho-jin.[120][121] Aside from those upsets, Lin dominated. In August in Hyderabad he became the first player to win the World Championships three times by beating compatriot Chen Jin in the final.[122] Later Lin would go on to win his fourth China Masters title[123] and first French Open title.[124] He ended his tournament winning streak in November with the China Open title,[125] before the late-year upset loss in the East Asian Games in Hong Kong.[121]
2010: Asiad gold, Fourth Thomas Cup and Asian champion
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After starting the season disappointingly with quarterfinal losses at both the All England and Swiss Opens,[126][127] Lin won his first title of the year at the Badminton Asia Championships in New Delhi, which also marked his first victory at this annual event.[128]
Taking part in his fifth Thomas Cup campaign for China in May, Lin won a pair of hard-fought encounters with South Korea's Park Sung-hwan in the group ties and the quarter-finals respectively.[129] In the semi-finals, he handily defeated Lee Chong Wei in contributing to China's 3–0 victory over Malaysia and a berth in the final against long time rival Indonesia.[130] Here, Lin led off with a comfortable victory over familiar opponent Taufik Hidayat, as China went on to capture its eighth Men's World Team title; its fourth consecutively.[131]
After the Thomas Cup triumph, Lin played in the World Championships in Paris, France. He won his opening match[132] and then beat Henri Hurskainen and Bao Chunlai in the second and third rounds respectively[133][134] before being upset by Park Sung-hwan in the quarter-finals. That day also saw his archrival Lee Chong Wei exit from the tournament which was eventually won by Lin's compatriot Chen Jin.[135] Lin then bounced back to win the China Masters,[136] but lost the final of the Japan Open to Lee Chong Wei the following week,[137] and conceded walkovers in the quarter-finals of both the China Open,[138] and Hong Kong Open late in the year.[139]
However, Lin managed to win his first ever Asian Games gold medal in November by beating Lee Chong Wei in final,[140] thus, at 27, becoming the first player to win all of the present major titles available to Asian men in badminton, both individual and national team.[141] Lin was voted the most valuable player (MVP) at the games' closing ceremony.[142]
2011: Fourth World and Sudirman Cup success, Second Asian and First Super Series Masters Finals titles
[edit]
Lin began the year with a withdrawal in the Malaysia Open's quarter-finals, which marked his third consecutive withdrawal since late 2010. This action brought some criticism, particularly by well known fellow competitor Taufik Hidayat.[143] The very next week Lin sprang back to win the first ever million dollar badminton tournament, Korea Open by beating Lee Chong Wei in the final.[144] He next won the German Open, beating his compatriot and reigning world champion Chen Jin in the final.[145]
At the prestigious All England Championships in March his hopes for a fifth title were put on hold when he was defeated by Lee Chong Wei in the final.[146][147] However, in April he won his second Asian Championships on a day which saw China sweep all five titles[148] and in May he helped China to a fourth consecutive Sudirman Cup title by defeating Denmark 3–0 in the final.[149] In June, Lin's withdrawal from the Singapore Open final due to gastric flu drew jeers from fans in the stadium.[150] Just few days later, he was upset by Sho Sasaki in the second round of Indonesia Open.[151]
Healthy again in August, Lin won his fourth World Championship title by beating familiar rivals Peter Gade in the semi-finals and Lee Chong Wei in a very tight three game final at Wembley Arena, a venue which would host the badminton competition for 2012 Summer Olympics.[152]
The rather up and down season for Lin continued with the China Masters in September where he was ousted in the semi-finals, and at the Japan Open where he withdrew from the semifinals.[153][154] This was followed up by a shock exit in the second round of the Denmark Open to Hong Kong player Wong Wing Ki,[155] and another withdrawal during the semifinals of French Open despite leading in the match. He told officials that he was suffering from paronychia (an infection below the fingernail).[156][157] This was his sixth retirement of the season and many in the media imputed that this was part of a strategy to improve the rankings of other Chinese singles players to allow the maximum number to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.[158] Both Lin and Chinese coach Li Yongbo denied this, citing, instead, the heavy tournament schedule that BWF required of top players, and Lin's need to be ready for the biggest events such as the Olympics.[159][160] In any case, Lin's slump did not last long. He ended the year by winning three straight events, His fifth Hong Kong Open, the China Open,[161][162] and his first Super Series Masters Finals title.[163]
2012: Second Olympic gold, Fifth All England and Thomas Cup
[edit]
Lin started the year by losing to Lee Chong Wei in the final of the Korea Open,[164] and then losing in the second round of the Malaysia Open to Denmark's Jan O. Jorgensen.[165] In early March, he took his first title of the season by winning his fifth German Open.[166] The very next week, he won his fifth All England Open title as rival Lee Chong Wei was forced to retire in discomfort early in the second game of the final.[167] In April, Lin was again the subject of some controversy when he withdrew from the semifinals of the Asian Championships, a move that was openly seen as a ploy to secure an Olympic berth for his compatriot Chen Jin.[168]
In Wuhan, China in May, Lin Dan and his teammates won all of their individual matches in each tie they played to win their fifth consecutive Thomas Cup (remarkably China's women also went entirely undefeated to regain the Uber Cup from South Korea).[169] With only a week between Thomas Cup and the Thailand Open in early June, a fatigued Lin lost in the semi-finals to Indonesia's highly capable Sony Dwi Kuncoro.[170]
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Lin routinely beat Ireland's Scott Evans to qualify for the main draw of sixteen players where he started by trouncing fading star Taufik Hidayat.[171][172] In the quarter-finals, however, Japan's hard-fighting Sho Sasaki put Lin to the test before yielding 16–21 in the third game.[173] Lin then handily beat South Korean veteran Lee Hyun-il in the semi-finals to set up yet another meeting with his chief rival Lee Chong Wei.[174] Unlike the 2008 Olympic finals, this one was no cakewalk for Lin. He lost the first game to Lee but came back strongly to take the second. The rubber game was a thriller which saw Lin claw back from slight deficits most of the way to finally prevail 21–19.[175] An ecstatic Lin thus became the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic title, while Lee, now almost 30, was once again foiled at one of the sport's two biggest events (aside from the Thomas and Uber Cups), the Olympics and the World Championships.[8]
2013: Fifth World title
[edit]After his 2012 Olympic victory Lin did not make another tournament appearance until the Asian Championships, in April where, citing injury, he withdrew from the quarter-finals.[176] Amid some speculation that he was planning to retire, Lin was granted a special wild card entry into the World Championships in Guangzhou, as, despite his great achievements, his recent inactivity had caused his world ranking to fall below that of other Chinese players who would then normally fill the maximum quota of three entrants that any one country was allowed.[177] Without appearing in any tournament between the Badminton Asia Championships in April and the World Championships in August, Lin was able to convert this wildcard entry into his fifth world title. He won all of his matches in straight games until the final where, yet again, hard-luck Lee Chong Wei could not quite catch him in the third game rubber, and was forced to submit with a painful cramp down 17–20.[178]
2014: Second Asiad gold and Third Asian title
[edit]After seven month tournament absence, Lin, down to 104th in the official world rankings, returned in April and took titles in the China Masters,[179] and the Asian Championships in quick succession.[180] Lin was part of China's Thomas Cup team which defended its title in May, but because of his deflated ranking could only play at third singles. Consequently, when China met a talented and highly motivated Japanese team in the semi-finals at New Delhi, Lin could only watch helplessly as Japan took the first two singles and a doubles to break China's ten year streak of men's world team titles.[181] Beyond this disappointment, the BWF would not grant Lin a wild card entry into the 2014 World Championships, as they did in 2013. Thus Lin could not defend his title which was won by Chinese teammate Chen Long who defeated the unlucky Lee Chong Wei in a close two game final.[182]
In June, Lin lost in the quarter-finals of Japan Open.[183] Shortly afterwards, he won the Australian Open, his first Superseries title since the 2012 All England Open,[184] and then won the Grand Prix title in the Chinese Taipei Open.[185] In September, he successfully defended his men's singles title in the Incheon Asian Games and was also a part of the men's team winning the silver medal.[186] In November, Lin lost in the final of the China Open to Srikanth Kidambi from India.[187]
2015: Fourth Asian title and Fifth Sudirman Cup
[edit]Lin won the men's singles title at the Asian Championships in China, defending his title won the previous year in South Korea. He defeated compatriot Tian Houwei 21–19, 21–8 in a match that lasted 50 minutes in the central city of Wuhan.[188] Lin Dan contributed to China winning its 10th Sudirman Cup by defeating Japan's Takuma Ueda 21–15, 21–13 in the final for his team's third and decisive point. His return to the World Championships in August, however, was not particularly auspicious as he was routinely eliminated by Denmark's Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the quarter-finals, as Lin's compatriot Chen Long again prevailed over Lee Chong Wei in the finals. Recovering from this disappointment, in September, Lin won his only Superseries title of the year at the Japan Open, making a remarkable comeback after trailing 3–11 in the deciding game of the final against Denmark's young star Viktor Axelsen.[189] He then participated in the Rio Olympics test tournament the Brasil Open in the end of the year, won the title after beating Pablo Abián in the final.[190]
2016: Sixth All England title
[edit]In March, Lin defeated Taiwan's Chou Tien-Chen in three hard games to clinch his seventh men's singles title at the German Open.[191][192] A week after this win, Lin regained his All England title in Birmingham, giving him his 6th victory at this prestigious event. In impressive form, he beat compatriot Tian Houwei 21–9, 21–10 in the final.[193]
In April, Lin Dan beat world No. 1 Chen Long in straight games to lift his sixth China Masters crown in Jiangsu, China. Here Lin showed his competitive mettle by coming from 11 to 16 behind in the second game to clinch the match 23–21.[194] In June, however, he was stunned in second round of Indonesia Open by eighteen year old Jonatan Christie.[195]
At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Lin sailed through his group round robin to qualify for the main draw. In the quarter-finals he was tested by India's Srikanth Kidambi, but pulled through 21–18 in the third game. This set up a sem-ifinals confrontation with long-time rival Lee Chong Wei which drew great fan interest as the players, both in their thirties, were assumed to be near retirement. In another epic match Lee was finally able to reverse past Olympic and World Championship losses to Lin and prevailed, 15–21, 21–11, 22–20.[196] But Lee's quest for Olympic gold after two silver medals ended with a disappointing finale, as he was beaten in two close games by Lin's compatriot Chen Long. In the bronze medal match, Lin played Denmark's Viktor Axelsen. After taking the first set 21–15, the two-time Olympic champion lost the next two and the match with a scoreline of 21–15, 10–21, 17–21.[197] After the Rio Olympics, he skipped all international tournaments for the remainder of the year.[198]
2017: First Malaysia Open title
[edit]In March, at the prestigious All England Championships Lin defeated Viktor Axelson in the quarter-finals but was eliminated in the semi-finals by his countryman Shi Yuqi, more than twelve years Lin's Junior.[199] However, he bounced back to win the Swiss Open by beating Shi Yuqi in the finals.[200] In April, he won the Malaysia Open for the first time by defeating Lee Chong Wei, who had virtually owned this title for more than a decade.[201] In the China Masters, he lost in the semi-finals to Qiao Bin,[202] and in the Asian Championships, where he recorded a sem-ifinals win over Lee Chong Wei, he took a silver medal after losing to Chen Long in the final.[203] Lin was beaten in the German and Indonesian Opens respectively in round of 16. He lost to Chen Long in the Australian Open quarter-finals.[204]
At the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, at age 33, Lin managed to reach a record seventh men's singles final by beating Hong Kong's Wong Wing Ki, 21–17, 21–18 in the quarter-finals and beating Korea's Son Wan-ho, 21–17, 21–14 in the semi-finals. But in the finals, he was beaten in straight sets by his ten years younger opponent, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, 22–20, 21–16.[205]
2018: Sixth Thomas Cup
[edit]In March, the 34-year-old Lin tied Rudy Hartono's record of reaching ten All England men's singles finals, but was foiled in his try for a seventh title by his much younger compatriot, Shi Yuqi in three exhausting games, 19–21, 21–16, 9–21.[206] In May, he won the New Zealand Open by beating talented Indonesian youngster Jonatan Christie in two close games, 21–14, 21–19.[207] Later that month, Lin was a member of the Chinese team which regained the Thomas Cup after four years of absence, though his team was never extended to a deciding 5th match which would have required his services in the third singles position.[208]
2019: Second Malaysia Open title
[edit]In his first tournament of 2019, Lin reached the final of the Thailand Masters, where he lost to the up-and-coming Loh Kean Yew in two tightly contested games, 19–21, 18–21.[209] In April, at the age of 35, he won his second Malaysia Open title, beating higher ranked compatriot Shi Yuqi, and Chen Long, in the semi-finals and finals respectively.[210] However, he withdrew from the Singapore Open during the first round against Viktor Axelsen, citing a "thigh injury", but only after being visibly upset by early line calls.[211] In May, he lost in the semi-finals of the New Zealand Open to Ng Ka Long in two straight games. In November, he lost in the final of the Korea Masters to Kanta Tsuneyama in another straight games defeat.[212]
2020: Pandemic-Shortened Season
[edit]Lin began the 2020 season poorly. In January he was eliminated in the first round of the Malaysia Masters by Jan Ø. Jørgensen in two games, 19–21, 18–21.[213] The following week, he participated in the Indonesia Masters and was defeated in the first round again, this time by Viktor Axelsen, who beat him in two relatively easy games, 12–21, 14–21.[214] Lin then followed up with yet another first round exit at the Thailand Masters where he lost to Ng Ka Long.[215] At the All England Open held in March, he reached the second round but was defeated by compatriot Chen Long.[216] This turned out to be his last tournament as the rest of the world tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Retirement
[edit]On 4 July 2020, Lin announced his retirement, saying "At 37, pain and injuries no longer allow me to fight with my teammates. I have gratitude, a heavy heart and unwillingness."[217] After his retirement, he joined Instagram to stay connected with his fans all over the world.[218]
Rivalry with Lee Chong Wei
[edit]The Lee–Lin rivalry was a rivalry between two professional badminton players, Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan whose careers were almost exactly contemporaneous. The rivalry is often considered the greatest in the history of badminton even though Lin had the decided edge.[219][220][221] Of their 40 meetings, Lin won the head-to-head by 28–12 but Lee Chong Wei was ranked World number one throughout both their careers consecutively for almost 10 years. However Lin Dan won the all the major championships while Lee Chong Wei failed to win any.
Personal life
[edit]Lin has been in a relationship with Xie Xingfang, herself a former world champion, since 2003.[222] They were quietly engaged on 13 December 2010 in Haizhu, Guangzhou. Xie initially denied but later acknowledged romantic involvement with Lin, who reacted angrily at the public exposure of their relationship, citing reasons of personal privacy.[223] The two were married on 23 September 2012 and the wedding ceremony was held at the Beijing University of Technology.[224]
Lin had five tattoos visible during the 2012 Summer Olympics. His upper left arm has a Christian cross,[225] his lower left arm has five stars, his right upper arm reads "until the end of world",[226] a double "F" lettering on his lower right arm, and his initials "LD" are tattooed on the back of his neck.[227] These tattoos have been the subject of controversy due to his military and religious status.[225][228]
On 17 October 2012, he became the first active Chinese badminton player to accept a master's degree, which was presented at Huaqiao University.[229] His autobiography, Until the End of the World, was published after he successfully defended his Olympic title at the London 2012 Olympics.[230]
He and his wife Xie Xingfang had their first child "Xiao Yu" (Little feather) on 5 November 2016.[231] On 17 November 2016, he admitted to an affair and apologised on Weibo. Social media users had purportedly identified the woman as actress and model Zhao Yaqi.[232]
Honours and awards
[edit]Lin won the Eddie Choong Player of the Year award for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007.[233] He also secured the BWF Best Male Player of the Year in 2008.[234] Lin was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) during the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.[235]
On 16 January 2011, he was named China's best male athlete for 2010 in China Central Television's Sports Personality of the Year poll for his clean sweep in major badminton titles.[236]
On 26 May 2023, Lin was inducted into the BWF's Hall of Fame along with long-time rival, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.[237][non-primary source needed]
Social media
[edit]Weibo is the main social media platform which Lin is using to post and update his latest status as well as communicate with his fans or friends. Lin uses his name '林丹' as the name of the account. In February 2018, the latest number of his followers on Weibo has achieved 3.7 million.[238] Additionally, Lin's fan group has set an exclusive account called '林丹全国球迷会' on Weibo to update Lin's latest status, post his pictures and results of matches.[239]
Achievements
[edit]Olympic Games
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, Beijing, China |  Lee Chong Wei
|
21–12, 21–8 |  Gold
|
[108] |
| 2012 | Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom | Lee Chong Wei
|
15–21, 21–10, 21–19 | Gold
|
[175][8] |
World Championships
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, United States |  Taufik Hidayat
|
3–15, 7–15 |  Silver
|
[69] |
| 2006 | Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain |  Bao Chunlai
|
18–21, 21–17, 21–12 |  Gold
|
[81] |
| 2007 | Putra Indoor Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Sony Dwi Kuncoro
|
21–11, 22–20 | Gold
|
[90] |
| 2009 | Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, India | Chen Jin
|
21–18, 21–16 | Gold
|
[122] |
| 2011 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Lee Chong Wei
|
20–22, 21–14, 23–21 | Gold
|
[152] |
| 2013 | Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou, China | Lee Chong Wei
|
16–21, 21–13, 20–17r | Gold
|
[178] |
| 2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland |  Viktor Axelsen
|
20–22, 16–21 | Silver
|
[205] |
World Cup
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Olympic Park, Yiyang, China |  Boonsak Ponsana
|
21–14, 21–11 | Gold
|
[61] |
| 2006 | Olympic Park, Yiyang, China | Chen Yu
|
21–19, 19–21, 21–17 | Gold
|
[83] |
Asian Games
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Aspire Hall 3, Doha, Qatar | Taufik Hidayat
|
15–21, 20–22 | Silver
|
[75] |
| 2010 | Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–13, 15–21, 21–10 | Gold
|
[140] |
| 2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea | Chen Long
|
12–21, 21–16, 21–16 | Gold
|
[186] |
Asian Championships
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | PhilSports Arena, Manila, Philippines | Xia Xuanze
|
10–15, 9–15 | Silver
|
[18] |
| 2008 | Bandaraya Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia | Chen Jin
|
13–21, 14–21 |  Bronze
|
[99] |
| 2010 | Siri Fort Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India | Wang Zhengming
|
21–17, 21–15 | Gold
|
[128] |
| 2011 | Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China | Bao Chunlai
|
21–19, 21–13 | Gold
|
[148] |
| 2014 | Gimcheon Indoor Stadium, Gimcheon, South Korea |  Sho Sasaki
|
14–21, 21–9, 21–15 | Gold
|
[180] |
| 2015 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Tian Houwei
|
21–19, 21–8 | Gold
|
[188] |
| 2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Lee Chong Wei
|
20–22, 21–15, 4–21 | Bronze
|
[240] |
| 2017 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Chen Long
|
23–21, 11–21, 10–21 | Silver
|
[203] |
East Asian Games
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Hong Kong |  Choi Ho-jin
|
19–21, 18–21 | Silver
|
[120] |
World Junior Championships
[edit]Boys' singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China | Bao Chunlai
|
4–7, 2–7, 7–0, 7–0, 1–7 | Bronze
|
[17] |
Asian Junior Championships
[edit]Boys' singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Nishiyama Park Gymnasium, Kyoto, Japan | Sony Dwi Kuncoro
|
15–12, 15–5 | Gold
|
[15] |
Boys' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | National Indoor Stadium – 1, Yangon, Myanmar | Zheng Bo
|
Chen Yu Sang Yang
|
15–10, 3–15, 10–15 | Bronze
|
[241] |
BWF World Tour (2 titles, 3 runners-up)
[edit]The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[242] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[243]
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Shi Yuqi
|
19–21, 21–16, 9–21 |  Runner-up
|
[206] |
| 2018 | New Zealand Open | Super 300 | Jonatan Christie
|
21–14, 21–19 |  Winner
|
[207] |
| 2019 | Thailand Masters | Super 300 |  Loh Kean Yew
|
19–21, 18–21 | Runner-up
|
[209] |
| 2019 | Malaysia Open | Super 750 | Chen Long
|
9–21, 21–17, 21–11 | Winner
|
[210] |
| 2019 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | Kanta Tsuneyama
|
22–24, 12–21 | Runner-up
|
[212] |
BWF Superseries (21 titles, 10 runners-up)
[edit]The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[244] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[245] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Korea Open | Chen Jin
|
21–14, 21–19 | Winner
|
[85] |
| 2007 | All England Open | Chen Yu
|
21–13, 21–12 | Winner
|
[87] |
| 2007 | China Masters | Wong Choong Hann
|
21–19, 21–9 | Winner
|
[89] |
| 2007 | Denmark Open | Bao Chunlai
|
21–15, 21–12 | Winner
|
[91] |
| 2007 | Hong Kong Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
9–21, 21–15, 21–15 | Winner
|
[92] |
| 2008 | Korea Open | Lee Hyun-il
|
21–4, 21–23, 23–25 | Runner-up
|
[93] |
| 2008 | All England Open | Chen Jin
|
20–22, 23–25 | Runner-up
|
[96] |
| 2008 | Swiss Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–13, 21–18 | Winner
|
[98] |
| 2008 | China Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–18, 21–9 | Winner
|
[109] |
| 2008 | Hong Kong Open | Chen Jin
|
9–21, 21–9, 17–21 | Runner-up
|
[110] |
| 2009 | All England Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–19, 21–12 | Winner
|
[112] |
| 2009 | Swiss Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
16–21, 16–21 | Runner-up
|
[113] |
| 2009 | French Open | Taufik Hidayat
|
21–6, 21–15 | Winner
|
[124] |
| 2009 | China Masters | Boonsak Ponsana
|
21–17, 21–17 | Winner
|
[123] |
| 2009 | China Open | Jan Ø. Jørgensen
|
21–12, 21–12 | Winner
|
[125] |
| 2010 | China Masters | Chen Long
|
21–15, 13–21, 21–14 | Winner
|
[136] |
| 2010 | Japan Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
20–22, 21–16, 17–21 | Runner-up
|
[137] |
| 2011 | Korea Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–19, 14–21, 21–16 | Winner
|
[144] |
| 2011 | All England Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
17–21, 17–21 | Runner-up
|
[146] |
| 2011 | Singapore Open | Chen Jin
|
Walkover | Runner-up
|
[150] |
| 2011 | China Open | Chen Long
|
21–17, 26–24 | Winner
|
[162] |
| 2011 | Hong Kong Open | Chen Jin
|
21–12, 21–19 | Winner
|
[161] |
| 2011 | BWF Super Series Finals | Chen Long
|
21–12, 21–16 | Winner
|
[163] |
| 2012 | Korea Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–12, 18–21, 14–21 | Runner-up
|
[164] |
| 2012 | All England Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–19, 6–2r | Winner
|
[167] |
| 2014 | Australian Open | Simon Santoso
|
22–24, 21–16, 21–7 | Winner
|
[184] |
| 2014 | China Open |  Srikanth Kidambi
|
19–21, 17–21 | Runner-up
|
[187] |
| 2015 | Malaysia Open | Chen Long
|
22–20, 13–21, 11–21 | Runner-up
|
[246] |
| 2015 | Japan Open | Viktor Axelsen
|
21–19, 16–21, 21–19 | Winner
|
[189] |
| 2016 | All England Open | Tian Houwei
|
21–9, 21–10 | Winner
|
[193] |
| 2017 | Malaysia Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–19, 21–14 | Winner
|
[201] |
- BWF Superseries Finals tournament
- BWF Superseries Premier tournament
- BWF Superseries tournament
IBF/BWF Grand Prix (28 titles, 6 runners-up)
[edit]The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017. The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Denmark Open | Bao Chunlai
|
5–7, 1–7, 0–7 | Runner-up
|
[19] |
| 2002 | Korea Open | Shon Seung-mo
|
1–7, 7–3, 7–3, 7–5 | Winner
|
[20] |
| 2003 | German Open | Lee Hyun-il
|
4–15, 4–15 | Runner-up
|
[39] |
| 2003 | Japan Open | Xia Xuanze
|
12–15, 10–15 | Runner-up
|
[31] |
| 2003 | China Open | Wong Choong Hann
|
17–16, 15–12 | Winner
|
[38] |
| 2003 | Denmark Open | Chen Yu
|
15–4, 15–6 | Winner
|
[36] |
| 2003 | Hong Kong Open | Boonsak Ponsana
|
15–4, 9–15, 15–8 | Winner
|
[37] |
| 2004 | German Open | Xia Xuanze
|
17–16, 15–9 | Winner
|
[53] |
| 2004 | All England Open | Peter Gade
|
9–15, 15–5, 15–8 | Winner
|
[42] |
| 2004 | Swiss Open | Bao Chunlai
|
15–12, 15–6 | Winner
|
[41] |
| 2004 | Denmark Open | Xia Xuanze
|
15–12, 15–11 | Winner
|
[52] |
| 2004 | China Open | Bao Chunlai
|
15–11, 15–10 | Winner
|
[54] |
| 2005 | German Open | Muhammad Hafiz Hashim
|
15–8, 15–8 | Winner
|
[56] |
| 2005 | All England Open | Chen Hong
|
15–8, 5–15, 2–15 | Runner-up
|
[64] |
| 2005 | China Masters | Bao Chunlai
|
15–6, 15–13 | Winner
|
[60] |
| 2005 | Malaysia Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
15–17, 15–9, 9–15 | Runner-up
|
[65] |
| 2005 | Japan Open | Chen Hong
|
15–4, 2–0r | Winner
|
[59] |
| 2005 | Hong Kong Open | Bao Chunlai
|
15–4, 15–6 | Winner
|
[57] |
| 2006 | All England Open | Lee Hyun-il
|
15–7, 15–7 | Winner
|
[76] |
| 2006 | Malaysia Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
18–21, 21–18, 21–23 | Runner-up
|
[74] |
| 2006 | Japan Open | Taufik Hidayat
|
16–21, 21–16, 21–3 | Winner
|
[80] |
| 2006 | Chinese Taipei Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–18, 12–21, 21–11 | Winner
|
[77] |
| 2006 | Macau Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–18, 18–21, 21–18 | Winner
|
[78] |
| 2006 | Hong Kong Open | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–19, 8–21, 21–16 | Winner
|
[79] |
| 2007 | German Open | Chen Yu
|
Walkover | Winner
|
[86] |
| 2008 | Thailand Open | Boonsak Ponsana
|
17–21, 21–15, 21–13 | Winner
|
[103] |
| 2011 | German Open | Chen Jin
|
21–19, 21–11 | Winner
|
[145] |
| 2012 | German Open | Simon Santoso
|
21–11, 21–11 | Winner
|
[166] |
| 2014 | China Masters | Tian Houwei
|
21–14, 21–9 | Winner
|
[179] |
| 2014 | Chinese Taipei Open | Wang Zhengming
|
21–19, 21–14 | Winner
|
[185] |
| 2015 | Brasil Open |  Pablo Abián
|
21–13, 21–17 | Winner
|
[190] |
| 2016 | German Open |  Chou Tien-chen
|
15–21, 21–17, 21–17 | Winner
|
[191] |
| 2016 | China Masters | Chen Long
|
21–17, 23–21 | Winner
|
[194] |
| 2017 | Swiss Open | Shi Yuqi
|
21–12, 21–11 | Winner
|
[200] |
- BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
- BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament
Invitational tournament
[edit]Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Copenhagen Masters | Peter Gade
|
22–20, 16–21, 14–21 | Runner-up
|
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | China International Challenge | Lee Chong Wei
|
Cai Yun Fu Haifeng
|
18–21, 19–21 | Runner-up
|
Performance timeline
[edit]- Key
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | G | S | B | NH | N/A | DNQ |
Singles
[edit]This table is current through 2020 All England Open.
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | SR | W–L | Win % | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Cup | N/A | A | N/A | SF-B 3–0 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | G 4–1 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | SF-B 2–0 |
N/A | QF 3–0 |
N/A | G 2–0 |
N/A | 6 / 9 | 34–1 | 97% | [24][47][82][102][131][169][181][208] | |||
| Sudirman Cup | A | N/A | A | N/A | A | N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | G 3–1 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | A | N/A | G 3–0 |
N/A | S 2–0 |
N/A | A | N/A | 5 / 6 | 23–1 | 96% | [63][88][118][149] | ||
| Asian Games | N/A | SF-B 0–1 |
N/A | G 3–1 |
N/A | G 3–0 |
N/A | S 3–0 |
N/A | G 0–0 |
N/A | 3 / 5 | 9–2 | 82% | [29] | |||||||||||||
| East Asian Games | N/A | G 2–0 |
N/A | A | N/A | 1 / 1 | 2–0 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Individual competitions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summer Olympic Games | N/A | A | N/A | 1R 0–1 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | 4th 4–2 |
N/A | 2 / 4 | 14–3 | 82% | [50][108][175][8][197] | |||||||||||||
| World Championships | A | N/A | A | N/A | 3R 2–1 |
N/A | S 4–1 |
G 5–0 |
G 5–0 |
N/A | G 6–0 |
QF 3–1 |
G 6–0 |
N/A | G 6–0 |
A | QF 3–1 |
N/A | S 5–1 |
3R 2–1 |
2R 1–1 |
N/A | 5 / 12 | 48–7 | 87% | [32][69][81][90][122][135][152][178][205] | ||
| World Cup | not held | G 4–0 |
G 4–0 |
not held | 2 / 2 | 8–0 | 100% | [61][83] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Games | N/A | A | N/A | S 3–1 |
N/A | G 4–0 |
N/A | G 5–0 |
N/A | A | N/A | 2 / 3 | 12–1 | 92% | [75][140][186] | |||||||||||||
| Asia Championships | absent | S 5–1 |
absent | SF-B 4–1 |
A | G 6–0 |
G 6–0 |
SF-B* 4–0 |
QF* 3–0 |
G 5–0 |
G 5–0 |
SF-B 3–1 |
S 4–1 |
1R 0–1 |
2R 1–1 |
N/A | 4 / 12 | 46–6 | 88% | [18][99][128][148][168][176][180][188][203] | ||||||||
| East Asian Games | N/A | NH | N/A | NH | N/A | S 2–1 |
N/A | A | N/A | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | 67% | [120] | |||||||||||||||
| BWF tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BWF Super Series Finals[1] | not held | absent | W 5–0 |
absent | 1 / 1 | 5–0 | 100% | [111][163] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| All England Open | absent | SF 4–1 |
2R 1–1 |
W 6–0 |
F 5–1 |
W 6–0 |
W 5–0 |
F 4–1 |
W 5–0 |
QF 2–1 |
F 4–1 |
W 5–0 |
absent | SF 3–1 |
W 5–0 |
SF 3–1 |
F 4–1 |
1R 0–1 |
2R 1–1 |
6 / 17 | 63–11 | 85% | [30][42][64][76][87][96][112][126][146][167][193][199][206][216] | |||||
| Indonesia Open | absent | 1R 0–1 |
3R 2–1 |
SF 4–1 |
absent | QF 2–1 |
A | 2R 1–1 |
absent | 1R 0–1 |
2R 1–1 |
1R 0–1 |
1R 0–1 |
2R 1–1 |
N/A | 0 / 10 | 11–10 | 52% | [26][34][119][151][195] | |||||||||
| China Open | 3R 2–1 |
NH | QF 2–1 |
2R 1–1 |
W 5–0 |
W 5–0 |
2R 2–1 |
A | 1R 0–1 |
W 5–0 |
W 5–0 |
QF* 2–0 |
W 5–0 |
absent | F 4–1 |
SF 3–1 |
A | 1R 0–1 |
1R 0–1 |
1R 0–1 |
N/A | 5 / 16 | 41–10 | 80% | [28][38][54][70][72][109][138][162][187] | |||
| Malaysia Open | absent | QF 5–1 |
QF 3–1 |
2R 1–1 |
QF 3–1 |
F 4–1 |
F 5–1 |
2R 1–1 |
absent | QF* 2–0 |
2R 1–1 |
absent | F 4–1 |
QF 2–1 |
W 5–0 |
2R 1–1 |
W 5–0 |
N/A | 2 / 14 | 42–11 | 79% | [35][48][65][74][84][165][246][201][210] | ||||||
| Japan Open | absent | 3R 1–1 |
F 5–1 |
SF 3–1 |
W 5–0 |
W 5–0 |
SF 3–1 |
absent | F 4–1 |
SF* 3–0 |
absent | QF 4–1 |
W 5–0 |
A | QF 2–1 |
QF 2–1 |
1R 0–1 |
N/A | 3 / 13 | 42–9 | 82% | [31][59][80][137][154][183][189] | ||||||
| Denmark Open | absent | F 5–1 |
2R 1–1 |
W 6–0 |
W 6–0 |
absent | W 5–0 |
absent | 2R 1–1 |
absent | 2R* 1–0 |
QF 2–1 |
absent | 2R 1–1 |
1R 0–1 |
absent | 3 / 10 | 28–6 | 82% | [19][27][36][52][91][155] | ||||||||
| French Open | absent | NH | SF 3–1 |
A | W 5–0 |
A | SF 3–1 |
absent | 1R 0–1 |
absent | 1R 0–1 |
2R 1–1 |
N/A | 1 / 6 | 12–5 | 71% | [124][156] | |||||||||||
| China Masters | not held | W 5–0 |
SF 2–1 |
W 5–0 |
1R* 0–0 |
W 5–0 |
W 5–0 |
SF 3–1 |
absent | W 5–0 |
A | W 6–0 |
SF 3–1 |
1R 0–1 |
1R 0–1 |
N/A | 6 / 12 | 39–5 | 89% | [60][89][123][136][153][179][194][202] | ||||||||
| Malaysia Masters | not held | absent | 1R 0–1 |
A | 1R 0–1 |
0 / 2 | 0–2 | 0% | [213] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Indonesia Masters | not held | absent | NH | 1R 0–1 |
1R 0–1 |
1R 0–1 |
0 / 3 | 0–3 | 0% | [214] | ||||||||||||||||||
| India Open | not held | absent | QF 2–1 |
2R 1–1 |
absent | N/A | 0 / 2 | 3–2 | 60% | [247] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Singapore Open | A | NH | 2R 1–1 |
1R 0–1 |
SF 4–1 |
A | SF 4–1 |
A | QF 2–1 |
absent | F* 4–0 |
absent | SF 3–1 |
absent | 1R 0–1 |
N/A | 0 / 8 | 18–7 | 72% | [25][33][150][211] | ||||||||
| Thailand Open | absent | NH | absent | W 6–0 |
A | NH | A | SF 4–1 |
A | NH | absent | 2R 1–1 |
N/A | 1 / 3 | 11–2 | 85% | [103][170] | |||||||||||
| Korea Open | absent | W 5–0 |
absent | W 5–0 |
F 4–1 |
absent | W 5–0 |
F 4–1 |
absent | 2R 1–1 |
absent | 2R 1–1 |
1R 0–1 |
N/A | 3 / 8 | 25–5 | 83% | [85][93][144][164] | ||||||||||
| Hong Kong Open | A | NH | A | NH | W 6–0 |
NH | W 5–0 |
W 6–0 |
W 5–0 |
F 4–1 |
A | QF* 2–0 |
W 5–0 |
absent | 2R 1–1 |
A | QF 2–1 |
1R 0–1 |
2R 1–1 |
N/A | 5 / 10 | 36–4 | 90% | [37][57][79][92][110][139][161] | ||||
| Thailand Masters | not held | absent | F 4–1 |
1R 0–1 |
0 / 2 | 4–2 | 67% | [209][215] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spain Masters | not held | absent | w/d | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | 0% | [248] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| German Open | absent | F 5–1 |
W 5–0 |
W 6–0 |
SF 4–1 |
W 5–0 |
absent | W 6–0 |
W 6–0 |
absent | W 6–0 |
3R 2–1 |
QF 2–1 |
2R 1–1 |
N/A | 6 / 11 | 48–5 | 91% | [39][53][56][71][86][145][166][191] | |||||||||
| Swiss Open | absent | W 5–0 |
absent | SF 3–1 |
W 5–0 |
F 4–1 |
QF 2–1 |
absent | W 6–0 |
A | QF 2–1 |
N/A | 3 / 7 | 27–4 | 87% | [41][98][113][200] | ||||||||||||
| New Zealand Open | absent | NH | A | NH | absent | W 5–0 |
SF 3–1 |
N/A | 1 / 2 | 8–1 | 89% | [207] | ||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | NH | absent | W 5–0 |
1R 0–1 |
A | QF 2–1 |
A | QF 2–1 |
N/A | 1 / 4 | 9–3 | 75% | [184][204] | ||||||||||||||
| US Open | absent | 1R 0–1 |
A | N/A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | [249] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazil Open | not held | A | W 6–0 |
A | not held | 1 / 1 | 6–0 | 100% | [190] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese Taipei Open | absent | NH | absent | W 5–0 |
absent | W 6–0 |
SF 4–1 |
absent | N/A | 2 / 3 | 15–1 | 94% | [77][185] | |||||||||||||||
| Macau Open | not held | W 6–0 |
absent | N/A | 1 / 1 | 6–0 | 100% | [78] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Korea Masters | not held | absent | F 4–1 |
N/A | 0 / 1 | 4–1 | 80% | [212] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dutch Open | absent | QF 2–1 |
absent | N/A | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | 67% | [250] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SaarLorLux Open | absent | 3R 1–1 |
A | A | 0 / 1 | 1–1 | 50% | [251] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | R | W–L | Win % | Ref | ||
| Career Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total | ||||||
| Tournaments played | 1 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 20 | 21 | 4 | 226 | |||||
| Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 81 | |||||
| Finals Reached | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 108 | |||||
| Overall win–loss | 2–1 | 0–0 | 21–7 | 18–8 | 37–7 | 42–4 | 49–5 | 59–5 | 50–7 | 41–5 | 41–3 | 38–4 | 64–5 | 34–3 | 9–0 | 40–2 | 42–12 | 34–7 | 35–10 | 21–17 | 27—20 | 1—4 | 705–136 | |||||
| Win Percentage | 67% | 0% | 75% | 69% | 84% | 91% | 91% | 92% | 88% | 89% | 93% | 90% | 93% | 92% | 100% | 95% | 78% | 83% | 88% | 55% | 57% | 20% | 83.83% | |||||
| Year End Ranking | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 101 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 19 | [252] | ||||||||||
* : Means Lin Dan gave a walkover at his last round of this tournament (Lost the match and didn't count into the number of loss) Notes
- 1 BWF Super Series Finals was held from 2008 to 2017, when BWF World Tour Finals replaced it.
Longest winning streak
[edit]34 match winning streak
[edit]In 2006, Lin created a record by winning 34 matches in a row.[253][254]
| # | Tournament | Category | Start date | Rd | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Malaysia Open | Grand Prix | 18 June 2006 | F | Lee Chong Wei
|
18–21, 21–18, 21–23 |
| 1 | Chinese Taipei Open | Grand Prix | 21 June 2006 | 1R | Poompat Sapkulchananart
|
21–12, 21–11 |
| 2 | 22 June 2006 | 2R | Muhammad Roslin Hashim
|
21–16, 21–11 | ||
| 3 | 23 June 2006 | QF |  Rajiv Ouseph
|
21–14, 21–13 | ||
| 4 | 24 June 2006 | SF | Chen Jin
|
21–13, 21–17 | ||
| 5 | 25 June 2006 | F | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–18, 12–21, 21–11 | ||
| 6 | Macau Open | Grand Prix | 19 July 2006 | 1R |  Chan Io Chong
|
21–5, 21–15 |
| 7 | 19 July 2006 | 2R | Shon Seung-mo
|
21–14, 20–22, 21–10 | ||
| 8 | 20 July 2006 | 3R | Shōji Satō
|
22–20, 21–9 | ||
| 9 | 21 July 2006 | QF | Muhammad Hafiz Hashim
|
19–21, 21–18, 21–15 | ||
| 10 | 22 July 2006 | SF | Lee Hyun-il
|
21–10, 21–17 | ||
| 11 | 23 July 2006 | F | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–18, 18–21, 21–18 | ||
| 12 | Hong Kong Open | Grand Prix | 29 August 2006 | 1R |  Agus Hariyanto
|
21–19, 19–21, 21–12 |
| 13 | 30 August 2006 | 2R | Poompat Sapkulchananart
|
21–11, 21–15 | ||
| 14 | 31 August 2006 | 3R | Yeoh Kay Bin
|
21–18, 22–20 | ||
| 15 | 1 September 2006 | QF | Taufik Hidayat
|
4–1r | ||
| 16 | 2 September 2006 | SF | Kenneth Jonassen
|
16–21, 23–21, 21–16 | ||
| 17 | 3 September 2006 | F | Lee Chong Wei
|
21–19, 8–21, 21–16 | ||
| 18 | World Championships | 20 September 2006 | 1R |  Bobby Milroy
|
21–16, 21–17 | |
| 19 | 21 September 2006 | 2R | Park Sung-hwan
|
21–16, 21–12 | ||
| 20 | 22 September 2006 | QF | Muhammad Hafiz Hashim
|
21–10, 21–9 | ||
| 21 | 23 September 2006 | SF | Chen Hong
|
15–21, 21–19, 21–14 | ||
| 22 | 24 September 2006 | F | Bao Chunlai
|
18–21, 21–17, 21–12 | ||
| 23 | Japan Open | Grand Prix | 10 October 2006 | 1R | Yusuke Arita
|
21–11, 21–17 |
| 24 | 11 October 2006 | 2R | Joachim Persson
|
21–12, 21–10 | ||
| 25 | 12 October 2006 | QF | Muhammad Hafiz Hashim
|
21–19, 21–14 | ||
| 26 | 13 October 2006 | SF | Peter Gade
|
21–12, 21–14 | ||
| 27 | 14 October 2006 | F | Taufik Hidayat
|
16–21, 21–16, 21–3 | ||
| 28 | World Cup | 24 October 2006 | RR |  John Moody
|
21–9, 21–14 | |
| 29 | 27 October 2006 | RR | Kuan Beng Hong
|
21–12, 21–8 | ||
| 30 | 28 October 2006 | SF | Taufik Hidayat
|
Walkover | ||
| 31 | 29 October 2006 | F | Chen Yu
|
21–19, 19–21, 21–17 | ||
| 32 | Asian Games | Team Event | 30 November 2006 | RR | Anup Sridhar
|
21–19, 21–11 |
| 33 | 2 December 2006 | RR | Taufik Hidayat
|
17–21, 21–17, 16–21 | ||
| 34 | 4 December 2006 | SF | Taufik Hidayat
|
22–20, 13–21, 21–12 | ||
| – | 5 December 2006 | F | Lee Hyun-il
|
20–22, 21–11, 13–21 |
Record against selected opponents
[edit]Record against Year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists.
Records
[edit]| Time span | Records | Players matched |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Cup | ||
| 2004–18 | 6 gold medals | Stands alone |
| Summer Olympic Games | ||
| 2008–12 | 2 gold medals in men's singles (consecutive) | Viktor Axelsen |
| World Championships | ||
| 2005–17 | 7 finals in men's singles | Stands alone |
| 2006–13 | 5 gold medals in men's singles | |
| Asian Games | ||
| 2006–14 | 3 finals in men's singles | Stands alone |
| 2010–14 | 2 gold medals in men's singles | Zhao Jianhua |
| Taufik Hidayat | ||
| 2006–18 | 3 gold medals in men's team | Stands alone |
| World Cup | ||
| 2005–06 | 2 gold medals in men's singles | Liem Swie King |
| Han Jian | ||
| Icuk Sugiarto | ||
| Yang Yang | ||
| Joko Suprianto | ||
| Asia Championships | ||
| 2001–17 | 4 gold medals in men's singles | Stands alone |
| 6 finals in men's singles | ||
| All England Open Badminton Championships | ||
| 2004–18 | 10 finals in men's singles | Rudy Hartono |
| China Open | ||
| 2003–11 | 5 titles in men's singles | Stands alone |
| Fuzhou China Open | ||
| 2005–16 | 6 titles in men's singles | Stands alone |
| Hong Kong Open | ||
| 2003–11 | 5 titles in men's singles | Lee Chong Wei |
| Swiss Open | ||
| 2004–17 | 3 titles in men's singles | Chen Jin |
| German Open | ||
| 2004–16 | 6 titles in men's singles | Erland Kops |
| Brasil Open | ||
| 2015 | 1 title in men's singles | Scott Evans |
| Zulfadli Zulkiffli | ||
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External links
[edit]
- Lin Dan at BWFBadminton.com
- Lin Dan at BWF.TournamentSoftware.com (archived, alternate link)
- Lin Dan at Olympics.com
- Lin Dan at Olympedia
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Lin Dan
View on GrokipediaEarly years
Childhood and family
Lin Dan was born on October 14, 1983, in Longyan, a city in Fujian Province, southeastern China.[3][7] He was the only child of Gao Xiuyu, who worked at a government agency, and Lin Jianbin, employed at a state-run pharmaceutical company, in a modest Hakka family household.[8][9] The family's background reflected the everyday life of mid-level workers in rural Fujian during the 1980s, emphasizing discipline and aspiration for their son's future.[9] Growing up in Fujian's humid coastal environment, Lin Dan was shaped by the province's rich Hakka cultural heritage, which includes strong communal ties, resilience, and traditional values passed down through generations in the region.[10][9] At age 9, he left his family home in Longyan to attend a sports school in Fujian Province.[7]Introduction to badminton
Lin Dan, born on October 14, 1983, in Longyan, Fujian Province, China, discovered badminton at the age of 5 through local play and casual exposure to the sport. Despite his parents' preference for him to pursue piano lessons, he was captivated by badminton and began informal training, laying the groundwork for his lifelong dedication to the game.[11][7] At age 9, Lin Dan joined the Fujian Sports School in Longyan, marking his formal entry into structured badminton programs. With strong support from his family, who encouraged his passion despite the challenges of leaving home, he immersed himself in systematic training designed to develop young talents.[11][7] By age 12, Lin Dan advanced to the Bayi Sports Team in Fuzhou, a renowned military-affiliated program that intensified his development through rigorous daily sessions focused on technique, fitness, and discipline. During this period, around ages 10 to 12, he gained initial competitive exposure in youth tournaments, competing against peers and building resilience in a demanding environment.[11][7]Professional career
Junior career
Lin Dan joined the Fuzhou Bayi Sports Team, a prestigious national-level program affiliated with the People's Liberation Army, at the age of 12 in 1995, marking his entry into structured elite junior training.[12] This opportunity allowed him to train intensively in Beijing alongside other promising talents, honing his skills in a competitive environment.[13] His breakthrough came in 2000 when, at age 17, he won gold medals in both the boys' singles and team events at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships held in Kyoto, Japan, defeating strong regional competition to establish himself as a rising star.[13] Later that year, competing in the World Junior Championships in Guangzhou, China, Lin Dan earned a bronze medal in boys' singles after reaching the semifinals and contributed to China's gold medal in the mixed team event.[14][10] Under the guidance of coaches at the national training setup, including later partnership with Li Zhifeng, Lin Dan developed his signature aggressive playing style, characterized by powerful smashes, quick net play, and relentless pressure on opponents, which became evident in his junior successes.[15][16] Throughout his junior phase, he achieved notable successes before transitioning to senior competition in 2001.[17]Early senior career (2001–2004)
Lin Dan began his senior international career in 2001 at the age of 18, joining the Chinese national team and making his debut at the Asian Badminton Championships in Manila, where he advanced to the final but fell to teammate Xia Xuanze to earn a silver medal.[18] Later that year, he reached the final of the Denmark Open, marking his first appearance in a major individual tournament final, though he lost to Peter Gade. These early experiences built on his junior success, helping him adapt to the demands of senior competition against established players. In 2002, Lin Dan claimed his first senior title at the Korea Open, defeating South Korea's Shon Seung-mo in the final to secure the victory in straight games. He also contributed to China's bronze medal at the Thomas Cup, playing key matches in the team event as the squad reached the semifinals. The following year, 2003, saw a breakthrough with three individual titles: the China Open, where he overcame Wong Choong Hann in the final; the Denmark Open; and the Hong Kong Open.[19] Additionally, Lin Dan played a pivotal role in China's successful defense of the Sudirman Cup, helping the team defeat South Korea 3-0 in the final to retain the mixed team championship.[10] By early 2004, Lin Dan ascended to the world number one ranking in February, a position he earned through consistent performances and rising dominance in the circuit.[10] He capped the year with his first All England Open title, defeating Denmark's Peter Gade in the final to claim one of badminton's most prestigious individual honors at age 20. Lin Dan also anchored China's Thomas Cup victory, winning crucial singles matches as the team triumphed 3-1 over Indonesia in the final to secure the men's team world championship. During this period, his playing style evolved into an aggressive, all-court approach emphasizing explosive speed across the court, powerful smashes reaching speeds over 400 km/h, and precise net control to disrupt opponents, setting the foundation for his future dominance.[1]Rise to dominance (2005–2008)
In 2005, Lin Dan solidified his position as a top contender by playing a pivotal role in China's successful defense of the Sudirman Cup, the mixed team world championship, where the host nation defeated Indonesia 3-0 in the final held in Beijing.[20] His decisive singles victory over Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro helped secure the team triumph, marking China's fifth Sudirman Cup title.[21] Later that year, Lin Dan claimed his first Badminton World Cup singles title in Yiyang, China, defeating compatriot Bao Chunlai 15-6, 15-13 in the final to complete a clean sweep for the host nation.[22] Although he fell short in the All England Open final, losing to teammate Chen Hong 15-8, 8-15, 2-15, his consistent performances throughout the year reinforced China's growing dominance in international team events.[23] The following year, 2006, marked Lin Dan's breakthrough on the individual stage as he captured his first IBF World Championships gold in Madrid, Spain, overcoming Bao Chunlai in the final with a 18-21, 21-17, 21-12 victory to become China's first men's singles world champion since 1997.[24] This triumph was part of a stellar season that included his second All England Open title, defeating South Korea's Lee Hyun-il 21-15, 21-7 in the final to repeat his 2004 success. Lin Dan also contributed significantly to China's Thomas Cup defense in Tokyo, Japan, securing a 3-0 final win over Denmark by defeating Peter Gade 21-13, 21-9 in the opening singles match, extending the nation's streak to six titles.[25] His leadership in these multi-nation competitions underscored China's unyielding team supremacy, with Lin Dan often anchoring the singles lineup. Lin Dan extended his dominance in 2007 by successfully defending his world title at the BWF World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, defeating compatriot Bao Chunlai 21-13, 21-10 in the semifinal before clinching the final against Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-5, 21-11.[2] He added his third All England Open crown that March, defeating compatriot Chen Yu 21-5, 21-9 in the final. On the team front, Lin Dan helped China retain the Sudirman Cup in Glasgow, Scotland, despite a rare group-stage loss to Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei; the team advanced to defeat Indonesia 3-0 in the final for back-to-back titles.[26] These achievements highlighted his indispensable role in bolstering China's multi-disciplinary event successes, where his singles wins frequently turned the tide. The pinnacle of this period came in 2008, as Lin Dan realized his Olympic dream at the Beijing Games, capturing gold in the men's singles by demolishing Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei 21-12, 21-8 in the final—the most lopsided Olympic badminton final to date—becoming the first top-seeded men's singles player to win gold.[3] Earlier, he had led China to a third consecutive Thomas Cup victory in Jakarta, Indonesia, opening the final against South Korea with a 21-14, 21-10 win over Park Sung-hwan to set up a 3-1 team success. Amid these highs, a brief controversy arose from his loss to Chen Jin in the 2008 All England final, with some alleging it was manipulated to boost Chen's Olympic qualifying ranking.[27] Lin Dan's contributions during 2005–2008 not only elevated his personal stature but cemented China's era of badminton hegemony in both individual and team formats.Peak years and first Olympic gold (2009–2012)
In 2009, Lin Dan continued his dominant form following his Olympic triumph the previous year, securing his fourth All England Open title by defeating Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles final with scores of 21–19, 21–12.[28] Later that year, he contributed decisively to China's victory in the Sudirman Cup, defeating Park Sung-hwan in the final match to clinch the mixed team title for the third time.[29] At the BWF World Championships in Hyderabad, Lin Dan won his third gold medal, overcoming compatriot Chen Jin 21–11, 19–21, 21–16 in an all-Chinese final.[30] The year 2010 marked further accolades, including China's successful defense of the Thomas Cup, where Lin Dan played a pivotal role in the 3–0 final win over Indonesia, beating Taufik Hidayat 21–7, 21–14 in the opening men's singles rubber.[31] He also claimed gold at the Badminton Asia Championships in New Delhi, defeating Wang Zhengming 21–11, 21–16 to secure his second continental title.[32] At the Asian Games in Guangzhou, Lin Dan captured the men's singles gold by edging Lee Chong Wei 21–19, 21–16 in the final, a victory that completed his Super Grand Slam—winning all nine major badminton titles available at the time, a feat achieved at age 27.[3] In 2011, Lin Dan extended his streak with a fourth Sudirman Cup title for China, defeating Peter Gade 21–8, 21–12 in the decisive final match against Denmark.[33] He defended his Badminton Asia Championships crown in Chengdu, beating Bao Chunlai 21–12, 21–10 in the all-Chinese final, helping China sweep all five titles for the first time.[34] At the BWF World Championships in London, Lin Dan earned his fourth gold, defeating Lee Chong Wei 20–22, 21–14, 23–21 in a thrilling final.[35] Capping the year, he won his first BWF World Superseries Finals title in Liuzhou, overcoming Chen Long 21–12, 21–10 in the men's singles final.[2] Lin Dan's peak culminated in 2012 with China's fifth Thomas Cup victory, where he defeated Lee Hyun-il 21–14, 21–17 in the final against South Korea to secure the team title.[36] He then won his fifth All England Open, beating Lee Chong Wei 21–19, 15–21, 21–10 in the final despite his rival's injury concerns.[37] At the London Olympics, Lin Dan defended his Olympic title successfully, defeating Lee Chong Wei 15–21, 21–10, 21–19 in the men's singles final to become the first player to retain the gold medal in the event.[38]Continued success and second Olympic gold (2013–2016)
In 2013, Lin Dan secured his fifth BWF World Championships men's singles title in Guangzhou, China, defeating arch-rival Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in a dramatic final with a score of 16-21, 21-13, 20-17 after Lee retired due to injury. This victory marked a record for the most world titles in men's singles at the time and reaffirmed Lin's dominance following a period of limited competition due to rest and recovery. The win came in only his second tournament of the year, highlighting his ability to perform at the highest level despite reduced match practice.[39][40] The following year, Lin achieved a breakthrough at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, claiming his first Asian Games men's singles gold by overcoming teammate Chen Long in the final, 21-16, 11-21, 21-13. This success followed a semifinal victory over Lee Chong Wei, 22-20, 12-21, 21-9, in a match that lasted 72 minutes and showcased Lin's tactical resilience. Earlier in 2014, he also captured his third Badminton Asia Championships title in Gimcheon, South Korea, edging out Japan's Sho Sasaki in the final, 14-21, 21-9, 21-15, after a grueling 66-minute encounter that tested his endurance. These triumphs demonstrated Lin's adaptation to mounting competition from rising Chinese talents like Chen Long.[41][42][43] In 2015, Lin continued his continental dominance by winning his fourth Badminton Asia Championships men's singles title in Wuhan, China, defeating unseeded compatriot Tian Houwei 21-19, 21-8 in the final. This performance boosted his confidence ahead of the Olympics and underscored his role as a senior leader on the Chinese team. Later that year, he contributed decisively to China's fifth consecutive Sudirman Cup victory in Dongguan, China, securing a key 21-15, 21-13 win over Japan's Takuma Ueda in the final tie, helping the team clinch a 3-0 victory over Japan. Lin's participation in the mixed team event highlighted his growing emphasis on team strategy and support for younger players, including mentoring through on-court leadership during high-stakes matches.[44][45][46] By 2016, at age 32, Lin adjusted his playing style to prioritize consistency and control over explosive attacks, slowing rallies to conserve energy and counter the physical demands of his later career. This evolution was evident as he claimed his sixth All England Open title in Birmingham, England, dominating Tian Houwei 21-9, 21-10 in the final and equaling the record for most wins at the prestigious event. However, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Lin advanced to the semifinals after defeating India's Srikanth Kidambi 21-6, 11-21, 21-18 in the quarterfinals, but lost a tense semifinal to Lee Chong Wei 15-21, 21-11, 22-20. He then fell in the bronze-medal match to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen 15-21, 21-10, 21-17, finishing fourth overall amid the intense physical toll of the tournament. Despite the medal-less finish—contrasting his golds in Beijing 2008 and London 2012—Lin's run affirmed his enduring competitiveness against a new generation of players.[47][48][49][50]Final professional years (2017–2020)
In 2017, Lin Dan secured his first Malaysia Open title, defeating longtime rival Lee Chong Wei 21-19, 21-16 in the men's singles final, marking a breakthrough after previous final losses at the event.[51] This victory ended a title drought and completed his collection of major Super Series Premier crowns.[52] However, his season was marred by inconsistent performances, including a semifinal exit at the China Masters to compatriot Qiao Bin and early round losses in other tournaments, attributed in part to lingering effects from prior knee issues and the physical toll of age.[53] He also withdrew from the French Open, citing fatigue, which highlighted ongoing recovery challenges.[54] Lin reached the final of the BWF World Championships in Glasgow, where he lost to Viktor Axelsen 20-22, 16-21, earning silver but underscoring a dip in dominance against emerging talents.[55] These results reflected broader struggles with motivation and physical conditioning, as Lin later noted the increasing difficulty in maintaining peak form amid a grueling schedule.[56] Entering 2018 at age 34, Lin contributed significantly to China's sixth consecutive Thomas Cup victory in Bangkok, winning all three of his matches, including a 21-9, 21-8 quarterfinal rout of Lakshya Sen of India and a decisive 21-15, 21-10 win over Arnaud Merkle of France in the group stage.[57] His efforts helped secure the team gold 3-0 in the final against Japan, extending China's dominance in the biennial men's team event.[58] Individually, however, titles were scarce; he reached the All England Open final for a record-tying tenth time but lost to Axelsen 21-16, 21-13, and claimed only the German Open Super 300, amid frequent early exits that pointed to declining speed and recovery.[59] By 2019, Lin showed flashes of resurgence, capturing his second Malaysia Open crown by overcoming Chen Long 21-13, 18-21, 21-15 in the final, ending a two-year individual title drought and boosting his confidence ahead of potential Olympic qualification.[60] This win, his last major individual honor, came after defeating Shi Yuqi in the semifinals 21-19, 16-21, 21-12.[61] His final All England appearance ended abruptly in the second round, where he was upset by Lu Guangzu 19-21, 21-14, 21-7, further evidencing motivational lulls and physical wear from chronic injuries.[62] The 2020 season was severely curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with most tournaments canceled after March. Lin's last competitive outing was at the German Open, where he lost in the round of 16 to Wang Tzu-wei 21-15, 21-17, marking the end of his on-court appearances.[4] On July 4, 2020, Lin announced his retirement from the Chinese national team via social media, citing persistent pain, injuries, and an inability to compete at the required level after two decades, while expressing reluctance to burden his teammates.[4] This closure reflected years of grappling with waning motivation and bodily decline, as he had pushed his limits to chase a third Olympic gold but ultimately bowed to age and health constraints.[63]Rivalries
With Lee Chong Wei
The rivalry between Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei stands as one of the most celebrated in badminton history, marked by intense competition that spanned from their first meeting in the 2004 Thomas Cup final to their last in the 2018 All England Open, encompassing a total of 40 encounters overall. Lin Dan dominated the head-to-head record with 28 victories to Lee's 12, showcasing his edge in high-stakes clashes.[64] Among their most pivotal meetings were the finals of major international events, where Lin Dan consistently prevailed. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic final, Lin defeated Lee 21-12, 21-8 to claim gold, setting the tone for their Olympic duels. The 2011 World Championships final in London saw Lin edge out Lee in an epic three-game battle, 20-22, 21-14, 23-21, after Lee had taken the opening game. Similarly, in the 2012 London Olympic final, Lin overcame a resilient Lee 15-21, 21-10, 21-19, securing back-to-back Olympic titles. The 2013 World Championships final in Guangzhou ended with Lin winning 16-21, 21-13, 20-17 after Lee retired due to injury, highlighting the physical toll of their battles.[65] A notable exception came in the 2016 Rio Olympic semifinals, where Lee finally triumphed over Lin 15-21, 21-11, 22-20, advancing to the gold medal match—though he ultimately settled for silver.[66] Their contrasting playing styles amplified the drama of their matchups: Lin Dan's aggressive, power-driven approach, characterized by explosive smashes and bold net play, clashed with Lee Chong Wei's emphasis on consistency, exceptional footwork, and defensive resilience that often prolonged rallies and tested opponents' endurance. This stylistic opposition forced both players to adapt and elevate their games, with Lin's risk-taking flair frequently turning decisive points, while Lee's steady precision aimed to outlast and exploit errors. Off the court, the rivalry was underpinned by profound mutual respect, with both athletes acknowledging each other's influence in pushing the boundaries of the sport; Lee has described his obsession with beating Lin as a key motivator for his own improvement, while Lin has praised Lee's unwavering sportsmanship.[64][67] The "Lin-Lee derbies" significantly boosted badminton's global appeal, drawing massive audiences and transforming the sport's visibility during their era, as their high-profile clashes in events like the Olympics and World Championships captivated fans worldwide and inspired a new generation of players.[68][69]With other notable players
Lin Dan established dominance over Danish veteran Peter Gade early in his career, securing key victories that highlighted his rising prowess. In the 2004 All England Open final, Lin defeated Gade 15–9, 15–2 to claim his first title at the prestigious event, marking one of his breakthrough moments on the international stage. Their head-to-head record stood at 15–2 in Lin's favor, underscoring his near-unassailable edge against the experienced European player during the early 2000s.[70] Lin's encounters with Indonesian star Taufik Hidayat formed another significant rivalry, particularly intense from 2004 to 2006, as both vied for supremacy in men's singles. Taufik, the 2004 Olympic champion, challenged Lin in high-stakes matches, including the 2005 World Championships final where Taufik prevailed 15–3, 15–7. However, Lin responded with wins in subsequent clashes, such as the 2006 World Championships final (21–11, 21–6), and maintained an overall 11–5 head-to-head advantage, reflecting his adaptability against Taufik's aggressive, deceptive style. In his later years, Lin faced stern tests from Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, a towering presence with exceptional reach and power. Their matchups, beginning around 2012, intensified post-2016 as Axelsen ascended to world No. 1, with Axelsen securing a 6–3 edge in their nine encounters, including the 2017 World Championships final (22–20, 21–16).[71] Notable earlier wins for Lin included the 2012 German Open final, but Axelsen's victories in events like the 2018 All England Open demonstrated the generational shift, pushing Lin to refine his defensive play against the younger rival's smashes.[72] Overall, Lin Dan's records against top-10 players exemplified his versatility and mental fortitude, holding superior head-to-head margins against most elite opponents he faced multiple times, which contributed to his unparalleled success across majors.[58]Personal life
Family and relationships
Lin Dan began his romantic relationship with Xie Xingfang, a fellow Chinese badminton player and former world champion, in 2002 after they were paired together during national team training sessions.[73] The couple provided mutual support throughout their professional careers, with Xie often attending Lin's major tournaments and offering encouragement during high-pressure competitions, while Lin similarly backed her pursuits in women's singles.[74] Their partnership extended beyond the court, as they navigated the demands of elite-level badminton together, including Xie's retirement from the sport in 2009, after which she continued to champion Lin's ambitions.[75] The pair formalized their union with a private wedding ceremony on September 23, 2012, in Beijing, following their earlier marriage registration in 2010.[76] Their family grew with the birth of their son, Xiao Yu, on November 5, 2016, at a hospital in Beijing, marking a joyful milestone amid Lin's ongoing competitive schedule.[77] [78] As parents, Lin and Xie have prioritized privacy, shielding their son from public scrutiny while balancing the couple's high-profile status in Chinese sports culture. As of 2025, Lin has been publicly supporting Xiao Yu's pursuit of a tennis career.[5] Post-marriage, their relationship has been characterized by collaborative decision-making, particularly regarding career transitions. Xie supported Lin's drive to extend his career into his late 30s, and in turn, Lin's 2020 retirement announcement highlighted the role of family in his choice to step away after two decades, allowing more time with his wife and son.[79] This shared approach has enabled them to maintain a stable family life, with both emphasizing the importance of togetherness after years of separation due to training and travel.[80]Business ventures and endorsements
Lin Dan has secured numerous high-profile endorsement deals throughout his career, leveraging his status as one of badminton's greatest players to promote global and Chinese brands. He initially partnered with Li-Ning as his equipment sponsor from 2009 to 2014, providing apparel and rackets during his peak competitive years. In 2015, he signed a major contract with Yonex, the Japanese sports equipment manufacturer, which became his primary sponsor for rackets, clothing, and accessories; this partnership included the launch of an exclusive Lin Dan clothing line available in markets like China and Hong Kong.[81][82][83] Beyond sports equipment, Lin Dan has appeared in advertisements for a diverse array of consumer brands, enhancing his marketability in China and internationally. Notable endorsements include Pepsi, for which he featured in promotional campaigns highlighting his athletic prowess; Gillette, promoting grooming products; Red Bull, aligning with his high-energy image; and Oakley, where he starred in a dedicated promotional video in 2015. He also served as the China Brand Ambassador for Montblanc in 2014, representing luxury writing instruments and accessories, and has been associated with brands like Citroën, L'Oréal, Tsingtao beer, and KFC through various advertising efforts. These deals have significantly contributed to his financial success, with estimates placing his net worth at around US$32.5 million as of 2016, derived primarily from endorsements and prize money.[84][85][86][87] Post-retirement, Lin Dan has expanded into business activities, focusing on ventures that build on his sporting legacy while incorporating philanthropic elements tied to his sponsors. He has been involved in charity initiatives, such as co-initiating a badminton exhibition event in 2023 with other legends to support youth sports development, sponsored by jewelry brand Chow Tai Fook. Additionally, as a founding member, trustee, and donor to the Narada Foundation since its inception, Lin Dan has supported environmental and community programs, often in collaboration with corporate partners from his endorsement portfolio. He launched the Lin Dan Badminton Club after retirement, which has grown to at least five branches in Shenzhen as of 2025. Lin has also organized badminton tournament series, including the Lin Dan Cup and the King Cup International Badminton Open, with events held throughout 2024 and 2025 offering substantial prize money to promote the sport. These efforts underscore his transition from athlete to influencer in China's sports and philanthropy sectors.[5][88][89][90][91][92]Controversies
Lin Dan's career was not without controversies, including on-court incidents and personal scandals that attracted significant media and public scrutiny. In January 2008, during the final of the Korea Open Super Series against Lee Hyun-il, Lin Dan lost his temper after a disputed line call and defeat, raising his racket threateningly toward South Korean coach Li Mao and engaging in a heated shouting match with Li and his own coach, Zhong Bo. This outburst led to widespread criticism for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) reviewing the incident, though no formal sanctions were imposed beyond verbal warnings to players about behavior. Lin defended his actions, claiming provocation from the opposing coach's comments, but the event reinforced his reputation as badminton's "bad boy" and prompted discussions on player discipline in the sport.[93][94][9] In November 2016, photographs surfaced showing Lin Dan with model Zhao Xintong (also known as Zhao Yaqi) in intimate settings shortly after his wife, Xie Xingfang, gave birth to their son, sparking rumors of infidelity that dominated Chinese social media and news outlets. Lin promptly admitted to the affair in a public Weibo post, apologizing to his family without excuses and expressing remorse for hurting them, which drew over 780,000 comments and calls for boycotts of his endorsements. The scandal strained his public perception, with ongoing discussions and rumors persisting into 2017 and 2018 amid his continued competitions, though he denied any further impropriety and focused on family reconciliation; it also led to temporary scrutiny from sponsors but did not end his career.[95][96][9] Throughout his professional tenure, Lin Dan underwent regular doping tests as mandated by the BWF and World Anti-Doping Agency, with all results returning negative, despite heightened scrutiny in badminton following high-profile cases like that of rival Lee Chong Wei in 2014. This clean record helped maintain his eligibility for major events, though the sport's broader doping concerns occasionally cast a shadow over top Chinese players.[97][98]Post-retirement
Retirement announcement
On July 4, 2020, Lin Dan officially announced his retirement from professional badminton via a post on Weibo, stating that at age 36, his body could no longer endure the rigors of intense training and competition, and his motivation had waned after two decades in the sport.[99][4] In the announcement, he reflected on joining the national team in 2000 with dreams of glory, having poured everything into badminton through victories, defeats, and the support of teammates, coaches, opponents, and fans. The decision came amid a disrupted 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following his last competitive appearance at the All England Open in March, where he exited in the second round.[100] This followed a challenging final year marked by early tournament exits and struggles to maintain his form against younger rivals, though he had persevered through physical setbacks to compete. Lin's farewell post evoked widespread emotion, paying tribute to his supporters and rivals like Lee Chong Wei, who immediately responded on social media calling him the greatest opponent and expressing shared tears and laughter from their iconic rivalry. Media outlets globally hailed the announcement as the end of an era in badminton, with headlines emphasizing Lin's unparalleled legacy as a two-time Olympic champion and the sport's most dominant figure.Hall of Fame induction and legacy activities
In 2023, Lin Dan was inducted into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame alongside his longtime rival Lee Chong Wei, honoring their extraordinary contributions to the sport and their iconic rivalry that elevated men's singles badminton to global prominence.[101] The induction ceremony took place on May 26, 2023, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia, where Lin was recognized for his two Olympic gold medals, five World Championship titles, and overall dominance that defined an era.[102] This accolade underscored Lin's lasting impact, as the BWF highlighted how his technical mastery and competitive spirit inspired generations of players worldwide.[101] Following his retirement in 2020, Lin has remained actively involved in badminton through his Lin Dan Badminton Club, established in Shenzhen, China, which has expanded to multiple branches and focuses on training young players to nurture the next generation of talent.[90] He occasionally mentors Chinese juniors at the club, sharing insights from his storied career to emphasize discipline, technique, and mental resilience. Additionally, Lin has taken on commentary roles for select badminton broadcasts in China, providing expert analysis that draws on his unparalleled experience to engage fans and educate viewers on strategic play. His legacy projects include the publication of his autobiography Until the End of the World in 2012, which details his journey from a young athlete to global icon and continues to serve as a motivational resource for aspiring players.[103] Lin also engages in motivational speaking engagements, where he discusses perseverance and the pursuit of excellence, often at events tied to badminton development.[104] From 2024 to 2025, Lin has participated in several exhibition matches to celebrate the sport and connect with fans, including a high-profile showdown against Taufik Hidayat at the King Cup International Badminton Open in December 2024.[105] He also featured in exhibition events at the 2024 Macau Lin Dan Cup Badminton Open and the 2025 Lin Dan Cup, where his involvement highlighted his ongoing passion for competitive play.[106] Through these tournaments, which he hosts, Lin advocates for the growth of badminton in China by promoting grassroots participation, supporting youth competitions, and fostering international exchanges to sustain the sport's popularity and infrastructure development in the country.[107]Achievements
Olympic Games and World Championships
Lin Dan's Olympic career in badminton men's singles is marked by two gold medals, achieved in 2008 and 2012, making him the first player to win consecutive titles in the event. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, held on home soil, he dominated the final against Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, securing a straight-sets victory of 21-12, 21-8 to claim gold. Four years later, at the 2012 London Olympics, Lin Dan defended his title in an epic final rematch with Lee Chong Wei, rallying from a first-game deficit to win 15-21, 21-10, 21-19, showcasing his resilience and tactical prowess in a match that lasted over 80 minutes. His bid for a third consecutive gold ended at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he exited in the quarterfinals after a competitive run. In the BWF World Championships, Lin Dan amassed a record five gold medals in men's singles, along with one silver, establishing himself as the most successful player in the tournament's history. He earned silver in 2005 in Anaheim, USA, finishing runner-up to Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat after a strong campaign that included key victories en route to the final. Lin Dan then captured his first world title in 2006 in Madrid, Spain, defeating compatriot Bao Chunlai in the final, and followed it with back-to-back golds in 2007 (Anaheim) and 2009 (Hyderabad, India). He added further titles in 2011 (London) and 2013 (Guangzhou, China), with the latter marking his fifth championship win. These accomplishments underscore Lin Dan's unparalleled dominance in badminton's premier individual events. His consecutive Olympic golds highlighted his ability to perform under immense pressure across multiple cycles, while his five World Championship titles—more than any other men's singles player—cemented his legacy as a transformative figure in the sport, influencing standards of play and mental fortitude for generations.| Event | Year | Venue | Medal | Opponent in Final (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | 2008 | Beijing, China | Gold | Lee Chong Wei (21-12, 21-8) |
| Olympics | 2012 | London, UK | Gold | Lee Chong Wei (15-21, 21-10, 21-19) |
| Olympics | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Quarterfinal exit | N/A |
| World Championships | 2005 | Anaheim, USA | Silver | Taufik Hidayat |
| World Championships | 2006 | Madrid, Spain | Gold | Bao Chunlai |
| World Championships | 2007 | Anaheim, USA | Gold | Peter Gade |
| World Championships | 2009 | Hyderabad, India | Gold | Chen Jin |
| World Championships | 2011 | London, UK | Gold | Lee Chong Wei |
| World Championships | 2013 | Guangzhou, China | Gold | Lee Chong Wei |
Asian Games, Championships, and other major titles
Lin Dan secured gold medals in men's singles at the Asian Games in 2010 in Guangzhou and in 2014 in Incheon, contributing significantly to China's dominance in the event.[108] In Guangzhou, he defeated compatriot Chen Long in the final, marking a key achievement in his career as he completed a grand slam of major Asian titles. His 2014 victory in Incheon further solidified his legacy, where he overcame Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in a straight-sets final.[109] At the Badminton Asian Championships, Lin Dan claimed four men's singles titles, winning in 2010 in New Delhi, 2011 in Chengdu, 2014 in Gimcheon, and 2015 in Wuhan.[108] His 2010 triumph highlighted his early potential in the event, defeating experienced opponents to secure the crown.[110] In 2011, he defended his status against a competitive field, while his 2014 and 2015 wins demonstrated sustained excellence, with the latter serving as a strong buildup to his final Olympic campaign.[111] Lin Dan played a pivotal role in China's team successes, particularly in the Sudirman Cup, where he helped secure gold medals in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, contributing to a dominant era that included a five-peat from 2007 to 2015.[46] His performances, often in decisive singles matches, were instrumental in these victories, such as clinching the 2015 final against Japan.[112] Similarly, in the Thomas Cup, he was part of the Chinese teams that won in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2018, anchoring the squad with key wins like his 2018 group stage contribution.[2][113] Additionally, Lin Dan captured the Badminton World Cup men's singles title in both 2005 in Yiyang and 2006 in Yanzhou, establishing early international supremacy with straight-set finals victories over Thai and Chinese opponents, respectively.[10] These triumphs underscored his versatility across individual and team formats at the continental and global levels.BWF World Tour, Superseries, and Grand Prix titles
Lin Dan's prowess extended prominently to the BWF's professional tournament circuits, where he amassed a remarkable collection of titles across the Grand Prix, Superseries, and World Tour formats, demonstrating his adaptability from junior dominance to veteran resurgence. In the early stages of his career, during the IBF/BWF Grand Prix era (pre-2007), Lin secured 28 singles titles and 6 runners-up finishes, laying the foundation for his global ascent. These victories often came against top international competition in events like the German Open, which he won in 2001 and 2003, and the Japan Open in 2002 and 2004, showcasing his aggressive baseline play and tactical acumen that would define his style.[109][10] The BWF Superseries circuit (2004–2017), including Premier levels and Finals, marked Lin's peak dominance, with 21 titles and 10 runners-up across high-stakes annual events. He excelled in marquee tournaments, capturing a record-equaling six All England Open crowns in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2016—the most by any men's singles player—often overcoming fierce rivals in straight games to affirm his "Super Dan" moniker. Additional highlights included multiple China Open triumphs (2004, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014) and wins at the French Open (2007, 2010) and Indonesia Open (2005, 2009, 2010, 2013), where his endurance in three-game thrillers highlighted his mental fortitude. These successes, spanning over a decade, solidified his status as the circuit's unrivaled leader.[109][114] In the post-2017 BWF World Tour era, as Lin entered the twilight of his career, he added 2 titles and 3 runners-up, proving his enduring competitiveness at age 35 and beyond. His victories came at the Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Open in 2018, where he defeated Jonatan Christie 21–14, 21–19 in the final to end a 13-month title drought, and the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open in 2019, rallying from a set down to beat Chen Long 9–21, 21–17, 21–11 for an emotional comeback win. Runners-up finishes included the Indonesia Masters in 2018 and the China Open in 2019, where he pushed younger stars to the limit. Collectively, Lin's 51 titles across these circuits—excluding major championships—represent one of the most prolific hauls in badminton history, blending volume with prestige.[115][116][10]Records and statistics
Performance timelines
Lin Dan's performance timeline in major badminton tournaments underscores his dominance in men's singles, marked by consistent deep runs and multiple titles across elite events from his senior debut in 2001 until his retirement in 2020. The following table summarizes his results in key individual competitions, using notations such as W (winner), F (runner-up), SF (semi-finalist), QF (quarter-finalist), R16 (round of 16), Bronze (third place), and - (did not participate or not applicable). Results are drawn from official BWF and Olympic records.[117][118]| Year | Olympics | World Championships | All England Open | Asian Championships | Asian Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 | - | - | R32 | - | - |
| 2003 | - | SF | R16 | W | - |
| 2004 | R16 | - | W | - | - |
| 2005 | - | SF | QF | - | - |
| 2006 | - | W | W | W | W |
| 2007 | - | W | W | W | - |
| 2008 | W | QF | F | - | - |
| 2009 | - | W | W | - | - |
| 2010 | - | QF | SF | W | W |
| 2011 | - | W | F | - | - |
| 2012 | W | F | W | - | - |
| 2013 | - | W | SF | - | - |
| 2014 | - | DNP | QF | - | F |
| 2015 | - | QF | R16 | W | - |
| 2016 | Bronze | SF | W | - | - |
| 2017 | - | SF | QF | F | - |
| 2018 | - | R32 | R16 | - | - |
| 2019 | - | R32 | R32 | - | - |
| 2020 | - | - | - | - | - |
Winning streaks and head-to-head records
Lin Dan's career was marked by several notable winning streaks that underscored his dominance in men's singles badminton. One of his most remarkable runs was a 34-match unbeaten streak spanning from 2007 to 2008, covering five tournaments, before it was halted by Chen Jin in the final of the 2008 All England Open.[119] Another significant streak occurred in 2011-2012, where he achieved 23 consecutive victories, contributing to his strong form leading into the London Olympics. Overall, Lin Dan amassed over 670 career wins in men's singles, a testament to his consistency and longevity at the top level.[2] These streaks were often fueled by Lin Dan's peak physical form, tactical adaptability, and favorable draws that minimized early encounters with top contenders, allowing him to build momentum through lower-seeded opponents. However, they also highlighted his mental resilience, as he frequently overcame challenging conditions or minor injuries to maintain unbeaten runs.[70] Lin Dan's head-to-head records against key rivals further illustrate his superiority in high-stakes matchups. His most storied rivalry was with Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, whom he faced 40 times, securing 28 victories to Lee's 12. This lopsided record included multiple wins in major finals, such as the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medal matches.[64] Against other top players, Lin Dan maintained dominant records. For instance, he held a 15-1 advantage over Denmark's Peter Gade, with his sole loss coming early in his career before establishing clear superiority in subsequent encounters. These head-to-head outcomes often reflected Lin Dan's ability to exploit opponents' weaknesses under pressure, contributing to his legacy as one of badminton's greatest.| Opponent | Matches Played | Lin Dan Wins | Opponent Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) | 40 | 28 | 12 |
| Peter Gade (Denmark) | 16 | 15 | 1 |