Lin Dan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lin Dan 林丹
Lin in 2017
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Super Dan
Birth name	林丹
Born	(1983-10-14) 14 October 1983 (age 41) Longyan, Fujian, China
Height	178 cm
Weight	70 kg
Country	China
Years active	2000–2020
Handedness	Left
Men's singles
Highest Ranking	1 (26 February 2004)
Title(s)	66
Medal record Men's badminton Representing  China Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Men's singles Gold 2012 London Men's singles World Championships Gold 2006 Madrid Men's singles Gold 2007 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles Gold 2009 Hyderabad Men's singles Gold 2011 London Men's singles Gold 2013 Guangzhou Men's singles Silver 2005 Anaheim Men's singles Silver 2017 Glasgow Men's singles World Cup Gold 2005 Yiyang Men's singles Gold 2006 Yiyang Men's singles Sudirman Cup Gold 2005 Beijing Mixed team Gold 2007 Glasgow Mixed team Gold 2009 Guangzhou Mixed team Gold 2011 Qingdao Mixed team Gold 2015 Dongguan Mixed team Silver 2017 Gold Coast Mixed team Thomas Cup Gold 2004 Jakarta Men's team Gold 2006 Tokyo Men's team Gold 2008 Jakarta Men's team Gold 2010 Kuala Lumpur Men's team Gold 2012 Wuhan Men's team Gold 2018 Bangkok Men's team Bronze 2002 Guangzhou Men's team Bronze 2014 New Delhi Men's team Asian Games Gold 2006 Doha Men's team Gold 2010 Guangzhou Men's singles Gold 2010 Guangzhou Men's team Gold 2014 Incheon Men's singles Gold 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Men's team Silver 2006 Doha Men's singles Silver 2014 Incheon Men's team Bronze 2002 Busan Men's team Asian Championships Gold 2010 New Delhi Men's singles Gold 2011 Chengdu Men's singles Gold 2014 Gimcheon Men's singles Gold 2015 Wuhan Men's singles Silver 2001 Manila Men's singles Silver 2017 Wuhan Men's singles Bronze 2008 Johor Bahru Men's singles Bronze 2012 Qingdao Men's singles Bronze 2016 Wuhan Men's singles East Asian Games Gold 2009 Hong Kong Men's team Silver 2009 Hong Kong Men's singles World Junior Championships Gold 2000 Guangzhou Mixed team Bronze 2000 Guangzhou Boys' singles Asian Junior Championships Gold 2000 Kyoto Boys' singles Gold 2000 Kyoto Boys' team Bronze 1999 Yangon Boys' doubles

Lin Dan (Chinese: 林丹; born 14 October 1983) is a famous Chinese badminton player. Many people think he is the greatest badminton player ever. He won two Olympic gold medals and five World Championship titles.

Lin Dan was so good that he completed a "Super Grand Slam" by age 28. This means he won all nine major badminton titles. He was also the first men's singles player to win two Olympic gold medals in a row. He won in 2008 and again in 2012. His opponent, Peter Gade, called him "Super Dan" after a big win in 2004. This nickname stuck because of his amazing achievements. In 2023, he joined the Badminton Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Training

Lin Dan was born in Fujian, China. His parents wanted him to play the piano. But Lin Dan chose badminton instead. He started training when he was five years old.

When he was twelve, he won the National Junior Championships. The People's Liberation Army Sports Team noticed his talent. He joined the Chinese National Badminton Team in 2001, at 18.

Lin Dan's Amazing Career

Lin Dan's career was full of big wins and exciting matches. He became known for his powerful shots and clever play.

Early Junior Wins

In 2000, Lin Dan won two titles at the Asian Junior Championships. He won both the team event and the singles event. He also helped China win the team event at the World Junior Championships.

Starting His Senior Career

Lin Dan began his professional career in 2001. He reached his first final at the Asian Championships. He lost to his teammate Xia Xuanze. In 2002, he won his first title at the Korea Open. He also helped China reach the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup.

In 2003, Lin Dan won three big tournaments. These were the Denmark, Hong Kong, and China Opens. He also finished second at the German Open.

Becoming World Number One

In 2004, Lin Dan became the world's number one player. He won his first All England Open title. He beat Peter Gade in the final. He also helped China win the Thomas Cup. This was China's first Thomas Cup win in 14 years.

Later in 2004, he had a tough time at his first Olympic Games. He lost early in the tournament. But he quickly bounced back, winning three more titles.

Sudirman and World Cup Success

In 2005, Lin Dan kept his world number one ranking. He won the German and Hong Kong Opens again. He also won the Japan Open, China Masters, and World Cup. He helped China win the Sudirman Cup too. This is a team championship for both men and women.

He lost in the final of the World Championships to Taufik Hidayat.

First World Championship Title

In 2006, Lin Dan won six individual titles. He won the All England Open again. Most importantly, he won his first World Championship title in Spain. He beat his teammate Bao Chunlai in the final.

He also helped China win the Thomas Cup for the second time in a row. In October, he won his second World Cup title.

More World and All England Titles

In 2007, Lin Dan won the Korea Open and German Open. He also won the All England championships for the third time. He helped China keep the Sudirman Cup. In August, he won his second World Championship. This made him the first man since Yang Yang to win two World Championships in a row.

Third World and Sudirman Cup Wins

In 2009, Lin Dan won his fourth All England title. He beat Lee Chong Wei in the final. He also helped China win the Sudirman Cup for the third time in a row.

In August, he became the first player to win the World Championships three times. He also won his fourth China Masters title and his first French Open title.

Asian Games Gold and Thomas Cup

Lin Dan (CHN)

In 2010, Lin Dan won his first title of the year at the Badminton Asia Championships. He also helped China win its fourth straight Thomas Cup.

Later that year, he won his first ever Asian Games gold medal. He beat Lee Chong Wei in the final. This made him the first player to win all major titles for Asian men in badminton. He was also voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the games.

Fourth World Title and More

Lin Dan in 2011 German Open.

In 2011, Lin Dan won the first ever million-dollar badminton tournament, the Korea Open. He beat Lee Chong Wei in the final. He also won his second Asian Championships. In May, he helped China win a fourth straight Sudirman Cup title.

In August, Lin Dan won his fourth World Championship title. He beat Lee Chong Wei in a very close final. He ended the year by winning the Hong Kong Open, the China Open, and his first Super Series Masters Finals title.

Second Olympic Gold Medal

Lin Dan at the 2012 Olympics

In 2012, Lin Dan won his fifth German Open and his fifth All England Open title. In May, he helped China win their fifth straight Thomas Cup.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Lin Dan made history. He beat his main rival, Lee Chong Wei, in a thrilling final. Lin Dan became the first men's singles player to win two Olympic gold medals in a row.

Fifth World Title

After his Olympic win, Lin Dan took a break from tournaments. In 2013, he was given a special entry into the World Championships. Even though his ranking was low, he won his fifth world title. He beat Lee Chong Wei in another exciting final.

More Asian Games and Titles

In 2014, Lin Dan won the China Masters and the Asian Championships. He also won the Australian Open. In September, he won his men's singles title at the Incheon Asian Games again.

In 2015, Lin Dan won the Asian Championships for the fourth time. He also helped China win its 10th Sudirman Cup. He won the Japan Open with an amazing comeback.

Sixth All England Title

In March 2016, Lin Dan won his seventh German Open title. A week later, he won his sixth All England title. He beat his teammate Tian Houwei in the final.

At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Lin Dan reached the semi-finals. He lost to Lee Chong Wei in a very close match. He then lost the bronze medal match to Viktor Axelsen.

First Malaysia Open Title

In 2017, Lin Dan won the Swiss Open. In April, he won the Malaysia Open for the first time. He beat Lee Chong Wei, who had won this title many times before. At the World Championships in Scotland, Lin Dan reached his seventh final. But he lost to Viktor Axelsen.

Sixth Thomas Cup Win

In 2018, Lin Dan reached his tenth All England men's singles final. This tied a record set by Rudy Hartono. He lost to his younger teammate, Shi Yuqi. In May, he won the New Zealand Open. He was also part of the Chinese team that won the Thomas Cup again.

Second Malaysia Open Title

In 2019, at 35 years old, Lin Dan won his second Malaysia Open title. He beat his teammates Shi Yuqi and Chen Long to win.

Final Season and Retirement

Lin Dan's 2020 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. He lost in the first round of several tournaments. His last tournament was the 2020 All England Open in March.

On 4 July 2020, Lin Dan announced his retirement. He said that pain and injuries made it hard for him to compete. He thanked his fans and teammates.

Rivalry with Lee Chong Wei

Lin Dan had a famous rivalry with Malaysian player Lee Chong Wei. Many people think this was the greatest rivalry in badminton history. Lin Dan won 28 out of their 40 matches. But Lee Chong Wei was ranked World number one for almost 10 years.

Personal Life

Lin Dan has been with Xie Xingfang since 2003. She is also a former world champion in badminton. They got married on 23 September 2012. Their wedding was held in Beijing.

Lin Dan has five tattoos. These include a Christian cross, five stars, and the words "until the end of world." He also has his initials "LD" on his neck.

In 2012, he became the first active Chinese badminton player to earn a master's degree. His book, Until the End of the World, was published after his 2012 Olympic win. Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang had their first child, "Xiao Yu," on 5 November 2016.

Honours and Awards

Lin Dan won the Eddie Choong Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007. He was also named BWF Best Male Player of the Year in 2008. In 2010, he was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Asian Games.

In 2011, he was named China's best male athlete for 2010. This was because he won all the major badminton titles. On 26 May 2023, Lin Dan was added to the BWF's Hall of Fame. His long-time rival, Lee Chong Wei, was also inducted.

Images for kids

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  Lin in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Lin Dan para niños