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 on October 14, 1983) is a famous Chinese former professional badminton player. He is known as one of the greatest badminton players of all time. Lin Dan won many important titles during his career. These include two Olympic gold medals and five World Championship gold medals. He also won the World Cup twice and the Asian Championship four times.

Lin Dan helped China win the Sudirman Cup five times and the Thomas Cup six times. He also led the men's team to victory three times at the Asian Games. By the age of 28, Lin Dan had achieved a "Super Grand Slam." This means he won all nine major badminton titles available at that time. He was the first male player to do this. He also made history by being the first men's singles player to win two Olympic gold medals in a row, in 2008 and 2012.

His opponent, Peter Gade, gave him the nickname "Super Dan" after Lin Dan won the 2004 All England Open final. This nickname became very popular. Lin Dan was added to the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame on May 26, 2023.

Early Life and Training

Lin Dan was born in Fujian, China. His parents wanted him to learn piano and become a pianist. But Lin Dan chose to play badminton instead. He started training when he was five years old. When he was twelve, he won the National Junior Championships. This led to him being invited to join the People's Liberation Army Sports Team. In 2001, at 18, he joined the Chinese National Badminton Team.

Lin Dan's Junior Career

Lin Dan showed his talent early in his career. In 2000, he won both the team and singles events at the Asian Junior Championships. He was also part of the Chinese team that won at the World Junior Championships. He reached the semi-finals in the boys' singles event there.

Senior Career Highlights

Early Senior Years (2001–2003)

Lin Dan started his professional career in 2001 when he was 18. He reached his first final at the Asian Championships. He also made it to the final of the IBF Grand Prix event at the Denmark Open. In 2002, Lin Dan won his first title at the Korea Open. He helped China reach the semi-finals of the 2002 Thomas Cup. In 2003, he won the Denmark, Hong Kong, and China Opens. He also finished second at the German Open.

Becoming World Number One (2004)

Lin Dan had a great start to 2004. He became the world's number one badminton player in February. He won his first All England Open title by beating Peter Gade in the final. He also helped China win the Thomas Cup, ending a 14-year wait for the team. Lin Dan faced a challenge at his first Olympic Games in 2004. He was the top player but lost early. However, he quickly recovered and won three more titles that year.

Sudirman and World Cup Success (2005)

In 2005, Lin Dan kept his world number one ranking. He won his second German and Hong Kong Open titles. He also won the Japan Open, China Masters, and the World Cup. He helped China win back the Sudirman Cup, a team championship for both men and women. He reached the final of the World Championships but lost to Taufik Hidayat.

World Champion and More Titles (2006)

Lin Dan won six individual titles in 2006. He won the All England Open again. He also won the Chinese Taipei, Macau, Hong Kong, and Japan Opens. The biggest win was his first world title in Madrid, Spain. He beat his teammate Bao Chunlai in the final. Lin Dan and his teammates also won the Thomas Cup for the second time in a row. He won his second World Cup men's singles title in October.

Consecutive World Titles (2007)

In 2007, Lin Dan won the Korea Open and the German Open. He won the All England championships for the third time. He was part of the Chinese Sudirman Cup team that won the cup again. In August, Lin Dan won his second World Champion title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This made him the first man since Yang Yang to win back-to-back World Championships. He also won his third Denmark Open and fourth Hong Kong Open titles.

Olympic Gold and Challenges (2008)

Lin Dan in Hong Kong, 2008

Lin Dan started 2008 with a loss at the Korea Open. There were some disagreements about line calls during the match. He also lost to his teammate Chen Jin in the All England Open final. Lin Dan then won his first Swiss Open. In May, Lin Dan helped China win the Thomas Cup again.

At the Beijing Olympic Games, Lin Dan played very well. He reached the final against his main rival, Lee Chong Wei. Lin Dan won the match easily, becoming the first men's singles player to win Olympic gold as the top player.

Third World Title and More (2009)

In 2009, Lin Dan won his fourth All England title. He then 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 (2010)

Lin Dan won his first title of 2010 at the Badminton Asia Championships. He also helped China win its eighth Men's World Team title at the Thomas Cup. In November, Lin Dan won his first ever Asian Games gold medal by beating 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 (2011)

Lin Dan won the first ever million-dollar badminton tournament, the Korea Open, in 2011. He also won the German Open and 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 Peter Gade in the semi-finals and Lee Chong Wei in a very close final. He ended the year by winning three straight events: the Hong Kong Open, the China Open, and his first Super Series Masters Finals title.

Second Olympic Gold (2012)

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 and his teammates won their fifth straight Thomas Cup. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Lin Dan reached the final against his main rival, Lee Chong Wei. It was a very exciting match. Lin Dan won, becoming the first men's singles player to win two Olympic titles in a row.

Fifth World Title (2013)

After his 2012 Olympic win, Lin Dan took a break from tournaments. He was given a special entry into the World Championships in Guangzhou. Even without playing many tournaments, Lin Dan won his fifth world title. He won all his matches easily until the final, where he again faced Lee Chong Wei. Lin Dan won after Lee Chong Wei had to stop playing due to a cramp.

Second Asian Games Gold (2014)

After another break, Lin Dan returned in April 2014. He quickly won titles at the China Masters and the Asian Championships. He was part of China's Thomas Cup team, but they lost in the semi-finals, ending China's ten-year winning streak in men's world team titles. In September, he successfully defended his men's singles title at the Incheon Asian Games. He also won the Australian Open, his first Superseries title since 2012.

Fourth Asian Title (2015)

Lin Dan won the men's singles title at the Asian Championships in China, defending his title from the previous year. He also helped China win its 10th Sudirman Cup. In September, Lin Dan won his only Superseries title of the year at the Japan Open. He made an amazing comeback in the final.

Sixth All England Title (2016)

In March 2016, Lin Dan won his seventh men's singles title at the German Open. A week later, he won his sixth All England title. At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Lin Dan reached the semi-finals. He played against Lee Chong Wei in a highly anticipated match. Lee Chong Wei won this time. Lin Dan then lost the bronze medal match, finishing fourth.

First Malaysia Open Title (2017)

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 Glasgow, Scotland, Lin Dan reached a record seventh men's singles final. However, he lost to Viktor Axelsen in the final.

Sixth Thomas Cup (2018)

In March 2018, Lin Dan reached his tenth All England men's singles final, matching a record. But he lost to his younger teammate, Shi Yuqi. In May, he won the New Zealand Open. Later that month, Lin Dan was part of the Chinese team that won back the Thomas Cup.

Second Malaysia Open Title (2019)

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

Final Season and Retirement (2020)

Lin Dan's 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played his last tournament, the 2020 All England Open, in March 2020. On July 4, 2020, Lin Dan announced his retirement from badminton. He said that pain and injuries made it hard for him to compete. He thanked his fans and teammates. After retiring, he joined Instagram to connect with his fans around the world.

Rivalry with Lee Chong Wei

Lin Dan had a famous rivalry with another professional badminton player, Lee Chong Wei. Their careers happened at almost the same time. Many people think their rivalry was the greatest in badminton history. Lin Dan won more matches against Lee Chong Wei, with a record of 28 wins to 12 losses. However, Lee Chong Wei was ranked World number one for almost 10 years straight during their careers.

Personal Life

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

Lin Dan has several 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.

On October 17, 2012, Lin Dan became the first active Chinese badminton player to earn a master's degree. His autobiography, Until the End of the World, was published after he won his second Olympic gold medal in London in 2012. Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang had their first child, a son, on November 5, 2016.

Honours and Awards

Lin Dan received the Eddie Choong Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007. He was also named the BWF Best Male Player of the Year in 2008. In 2010, he was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Asian Games. On January 16, 2011, he was named China's best male athlete for 2010. This was because he had won all the major badminton titles. On May 26, 2023, Lin Dan was inducted into the BWF's Hall of Fame along with his long-time rival, Lee Chong Wei.

Achievements

Lin Dan won many medals and titles throughout his career. Here are some of his biggest achievements:

Olympic Games

• Gold Medal: 2008 Beijing (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2012 London (Men's singles)

World Championships

• Gold Medal: 2006 Madrid (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2007 Kuala Lumpur (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2009 Hyderabad (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2011 London (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2013 Guangzhou (Men's singles)
• Silver Medal: 2005 Anaheim (Men's singles)
• Silver Medal: 2017 Glasgow (Men's singles)

World Cup

• Gold Medal: 2005 Yiyang (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2006 Yiyang (Men's singles)

Asian Games

• Gold Medal: 2006 Doha (Men's team)
• Gold Medal: 2010 Guangzhou (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2010 Guangzhou (Men's team)
• Gold Medal: 2014 Incheon (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2018 Jakarta-Palembang (Men's team)
• Silver Medal: 2006 Doha (Men's singles)
• Silver Medal: 2014 Incheon (Men's team)
• Bronze Medal: 2002 Busan (Men's team)

Asian Championships

• Gold Medal: 2010 New Delhi (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2011 Chengdu (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2014 Gimcheon (Men's singles)
• Gold Medal: 2015 Wuhan (Men's singles)
• Silver Medal: 2001 Manila (Men's singles)
• Silver Medal: 2017 Wuhan (Men's singles)
• Bronze Medal: 2008 Johor Bahru (Men's singles)
• Bronze Medal: 2012 Qingdao (Men's singles)
• Bronze Medal: 2016 Wuhan (Men's singles)

East Asian Games

• Gold Medal: 2009 Hong Kong (Men's team)
• Silver Medal: 2009 Hong Kong (Men's singles)

World Junior Championships

• Gold Medal: 2000 Guangzhou (Mixed team)
• Bronze Medal: 2000 Guangzhou (Boys' singles)

Asian Junior Championships

• Gold Medal: 2000 Kyoto (Boys' singles)
• Gold Medal: 2000 Kyoto (Boys' team)
• Bronze Medal: 1999 Yangon (Boys' doubles)

Images for kids

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  Lin Dan in 2017

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  Lin Dan's signature

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  Lin Dan (CHN)

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  Lin Dan in 2011 German Open.

See also

In Spanish: Lin Dan para niños