Zhao Yunlei facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zhao Yunlei 赵芸蕾
Zhao Yunlei at the 2009 East Asian Games.
Personal information
Born	(1986-08-25) 25 August 1986 (age 39) Yichang, China
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	61 kg (134 lb)
Country	China
Handedness	Right
Women's & mixed doubles
Highest Ranking	1 (WD with Cheng Shu, 5 November 2009) 1 (WD with Tian Qing, 20 September 2012) 1 (XD with Zhang Nan, 27 January 2011)
Medal record Women's badminton Representing  China Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Mixed doubles Gold 2012 London Women's doubles Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Mixed doubles World Championships Gold 2011 London Mixed doubles Gold 2014 Copenhagen Women's doubles Gold 2014 Copenhagen Mixed doubles Gold 2015 Jakarta Women's doubles Gold 2015 Jakarta Mixed doubles Silver 2009 Hyderabad Women's doubles Silver 2011 London Women's doubles Bronze 2010 Paris Women's doubles Bronze 2013 Guangzhou Women's doubles Bronze 2013 Guangzhou Mixed doubles Sudirman Cup Gold 2011 Qingdao Mixed team Gold 2013 Kuala Lumpur Mixed team Gold 2015 Donggguan Mixed team Uber Cup Gold 2012 Wuhan Women's team Gold 2014 New Delhi Women's team Gold 2016 Kunshan Women's team Asian Games Gold 2010 Guangzhou Women's doubles Gold 2010 Guangzhou Women's team Gold 2014 Incheon Mixed doubles Gold 2014 Incheon Women's team Silver 2010 Guangzhou Mixed doubles Bronze 2014 Incheon Women's doubles Asian Championships Gold 2011 Chengdu Mixed doubles Gold 2012 Qingdao Mixed doubles Gold 2012 Qingdao Women's doubles Gold 2016 Wuhan Mixed doubles Silver 2007 Johor Bahru Women's doubles Silver 2011 Chengdu Women's doubles Silver 2013 Taipei Mixed doubles Asia Team Championships Gold 2016 Hyderabad Women's Team East Asian Games Gold 2009 Hong Kong Women's team Gold 2013 Tianjin Women's team Bronze 2009 Hong Kong Women's doubles Asian Junior Championships Gold 2004 Hwacheon Girls' doubles Gold 2004 Hwacheon Girls' team

Zhao Yunlei is a famous badminton player from China. She was born on August 25, 1986. Zhao is known for being amazing in both mixed doubles and women's doubles games. She made history at the 2012 London Olympics. She was the first and only badminton player to win two gold medals at the same Olympics! She won in both mixed doubles and women's doubles.

Zhao Yunlei is one of the most successful badminton players ever. She has won many important titles. These include the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games. She also helped her team win the Sudirman Cup and Uber Cup. Many people think she is one of the best female doubles players in badminton history. She won a total of 63 individual titles in her career. After the 2016 Olympics, Zhao stopped playing international badminton.

Her Badminton Journey

Zhao Yunlei played women's doubles with Tian Qing and mixed doubles with Zhang Nan. She became the world's number one player in women's doubles in November 2009. This was with her partner Cheng Shu. Later, she reached number one in mixed doubles with Zhang Nan in January 2011. When she teamed up with Tian Qing, they also became world number one in women's doubles in September 2012.

Big Wins in 2010

In 2010, Zhao and Zhang Nan won the All England Open mixed doubles title. This was a special win because they started from the qualifying rounds. Zhao and Tian Qing also won a gold medal at the Asian Games. They beat their teammates in a tough final. Zhao also helped the Chinese women's team win a gold medal.

Success in 2011

Zhao and Zhang Nan started 2011 by winning the World Superseries Finals. They also won the Korea Open a few weeks later. In August, Zhao and Zhang won the mixed doubles title at the 2011 BWF World Championships in London. This was Zhao's first World Championship gold medal. She also won a silver medal in women's doubles with Tian Qing. Later that year, Zhao and Zhang won the mixed doubles finals at the Hong Kong and China Open tournaments. They also successfully defended their World Superseries Finals title in December.

Double Gold at 2012 Olympics

The year 2012 was amazing for Zhao Yunlei. At the London Olympics, she won two gold medals! She won in mixed doubles with Zhang Nan and in women's doubles with Tian Qing. This made her a true Olympic legend.

World Championships in 2013 and 2014

In August 2013, at the 2013 BWF World Championships in Guangzhou, she won bronze medals in both mixed and women's doubles. The next year, in August 2014, she won two gold medals at the 2014 BWF World Championships in Copenhagen. She won both the mixed doubles with Zhang Nan and the women's doubles with Tian Qing. This was her first gold in women's doubles at the World Championships. In September 2014, Zhao and Zhang also won the mixed doubles title at the Asian Games. Zhao was named the 2014 BWF Female Player of the Year.

More World Titles in 2015

In August 2015, at the 2015 BWF World Championships in Jakarta, Zhao continued her winning streak. She successfully defended her titles in both mixed doubles with Zhang Nan and women's doubles with Tian Qing. By this time, she had won a total of ten medals at the World Championships. This made her the most successful player in the history of the World Championships. She and Zhang Nan also became the first mixed doubles pair to win three World Championship titles.

Final Olympic Medal in 2016

In April and May 2016, Zhao and Zhang Nan won the Asian Championships. In August, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she and Zhang Nan won a bronze medal in mixed doubles. This was her third Olympic medal overall.

Becoming a Coach

About a year and a half after she retired from playing, Zhao Yunlei returned to the national team. This time, she became an assistant coach.

Her Life Outside Badminton

Zhao Yunlei used to be in a relationship with her mixed doubles partner, Zhang Nan. However, they announced they had separated just before the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2018, Zhao married Hong Wei, who was also a former national badminton player.

Awards and Recognition

Zhao Yunlei's amazing career was recognized when she was added to the Badminton Hall of Fame in 2022.

Zhao Yunlei playing in 2013

See also

In Spanish: Zhao Yunlei para niños