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The title of G.O.A.T. in badminton is a highly contested topic, with Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei being the two names that have monopolized the debate. Lin Dan, a Chinese badminton player, has had an impressive career, being inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame in 2023. By the age of 28, he had won all nine major titles in badminton, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cup. He was also the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal, winning in 2008 and 2012. On the other hand, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia is also a strong contender for the title of G.O.A.T. He recorded 348 weeks as World No. 1 and was ranked year-end World No. 1 for six consecutive years (2008-2013). He won three Olympic silver medals, three World Championship runner-ups, and four All-England champions. While the debate continues, both Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei have undoubtedly left their mark on the sport of badminton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lin Dan |
| Nickname | Super Dan |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Achievements | First men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal by winning in 2008 and 2012; Winner of the Super Grand Slam; Winner of the first million-dollar badminton tournament; Winner of the German Open; Winner of the Korea Open; Winner of the Swiss Open; Winner of the Badminton Asia Championships; Winner of the Thomas Cup; Winner of the Asian Games gold medal; Winner of the Asian Championships; Winner of the Asian Junior Championships; Winner of the Sudirman Cup; Winner of the Year-end Finals; Winner of the World Championships; Winner of the World Cup; Winner of the National Junior Championships; Inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame |
| Comparisons | Considered the GOAT by some, while others argue for Lee Chong Wei, LCW, Chen Long, Kento Momota, Viktor Axelsen, or Taufik |
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What You'll Learn
- Lin Dan: widely regarded as the GOAT, completing the Super Grand Slam by 28
- Lee Chong Wei: named GOAT by Badminton Statistics, World No. 1 for 348 weeks
- Viktor Axelsen: European GOAT, but weaker competition
- Chen Long: achievements equal to Kento Momota, but edged out by Momota head-to-head
- Women's doubles: Yu Yang is statistically the GOAT
Lin Dan: widely regarded as the GOAT, completing the Super Grand Slam by 28
Lin Dan is widely regarded as the GOAT of badminton. Born in Fujian, China, in 1983, Lin started his badminton training at the age of five and was scouted by the People's Liberation Army Sports Team at twelve. He joined the Chinese National Badminton Team in 2001, marking the start of his professional career.
Lin Dan's first major victory came in 2000, when he won the Asian Junior Championships in both the team and singles events. He also reached the semi-finals of the boys' singles event at the World Junior Championships the same year. However, it was in 2004 that Lin Dan truly began to establish himself as one of the all-time greats. That year, he won the All England Open final, an achievement that earned him the nickname "Super Dan" from his opponent Peter Gade.
By the age of 28, Lin Dan had completed the "Super Grand Slam," having won 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. This included becoming the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal, winning in 2008 and defending his title in 2012. Of the nine major events, he had won at least two of each, except for the Year-end Finals, which he won in his only participation.
Lin Dan's achievements on the court have earned him widespread recognition and respect. He was inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame in 2023 and is considered by many fans and fellow players as the greatest badminton player ever. His head-to-head record against fellow badminton great Lee Chong Wei stands at 28-12, further cementing his status as a legend of the sport.
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Lee Chong Wei: named GOAT by Badminton Statistics, World No. 1 for 348 weeks
Lee Chong Wei, widely regarded as one of the greatest badminton players of all time, was ranked first worldwide for 348 weeks, including a 199-week streak from 21 August 2008 to June 2012. He is the fifth Malaysian player to achieve such a ranking and the only Malaysian shuttler who has held the number one ranking for more than a year. On 2 May 2023, Lee was inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame.
Lee's career was filled with highs and lows. He first reached the top of the world rankings in 2006 at the age of 24, overtaking his great rival Lin Dan of China. In 2008, Lee reached the Olympic final in Beijing, raising hopes that he would bring home Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal. However, he was beaten by Lin, who won straight games. This set an unfortunate pattern, with Lee also losing to Lin in the 2012 final and to China's Chen Long in the 2016 decider. Despite his Olympic setbacks, Lee's achievements include seven consecutive victories at the National Badminton Grand Prix Final in Kedah in 2008, breaking the record of six consecutive titles, and winning his ninth Malaysia Open title, surpassing the previous record of eight titles.
Lee's career also had its challenges. In 2014, it was reported that a top Malaysian shuttler had tested positive for dexamethasone, a commonly administered anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that is illegal during competition. Although the player's identity was not initially revealed, it was widely believed to be Lee. In 2017, a biopic movie about Lee's life was released, and in 2019, he announced his retirement from badminton after a difficult season and a battle with early-stage nose cancer.
While Lee Chong Wei is undoubtedly a badminton legend, some fans argue that Lin Dan is the greatest of all time. Lin was the first to complete the "Super Grand Slam," winning all nine major titles in badminton, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cup. He was also the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal, winning in 2008 and 2012. Nicknamed "Super Dan" by his opponent Peter Gade, Lin is known for his physical attributes, technical ability, and mental strength. While Lee is often considered a close second, some fans believe that Lin's prime form was simply unbeatable.
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Viktor Axelsen: European GOAT, but weaker competition
Since the retirement of the widely acknowledged badminton GOAT, Lin Dan, in 2020, there has been much discussion about who could take his place as the best badminton player of all time. One name that has been frequently mentioned in this context is Viktor Axelsen. Axelsen is a three-time European Champion, a two-time Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Champion, and a gold medallist at the 2020 Olympics. He has also won 16 World Tour titles, including two All England Champion titles, four Superseries titles, one Grand Prix title, and four International Challenge titles.
In addition to his impressive list of accolades, Axelsen has also dominated the world rankings, holding the number-one position for 50 consecutive weeks. He has chalked up 468 career wins, one of the highest of any Danish men's singles badminton player in history. Axelsen has also made history during his junior career by becoming the first European to win the World Junior Championships.
However, despite his impressive achievements, some argue that Axelsen has benefited from weaker competition compared to his predecessors. This view holds that Axelsen's era has lacked strong contenders to challenge him, and that he has not consistently shown spectacular results against the greats of the sport. As a result, some believe that Axelsen will always be considered a rung below the players he has crossed paths with, such as Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei (LCW), and Chen Long.
While Axelsen is undoubtedly a highly successful player, the perception of his legacy may be influenced by the level of competition he has faced. As of 2024, Axelsen is still active, and only time will tell how his career will be evaluated in the context of the sport's history and the emergence of new talent.
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Chen Long: achievements equal to Kento Momota, but edged out by Momota head-to-head
Chen Long is a former Chinese professional badminton player. He is the 2016 Olympic champion, a two-time world champion, and an Asian champion. Chen Long also won his first professional tournament in the Philippines Open in 2009 and was a former World Number 1, occupying the top men's singles ranking for 76 consecutive weeks from December 2014 to June 2016. In 2015, Chen Long reached the China Open final without losing a single set, but lost to Lee Chong Wei. Chen Long also won his first German Open title in February, defeating Tommy Sugiarto in the final. Chen Long is considered one of the greats of men's singles badminton and is known as "The Great Wall of China" by his fans.
Kento Momota is a Japanese badminton player who has also achieved numerous accolades. Momota was the first Japanese men's singles player to reach World Number 1 in the BWF World rankings on 27 September 2018. He was also the first Japanese player to win the Singapore Open in 2015, becoming the youngest Super Series champion in that category. Momota also won 4 BWF World Tour titles: Indonesia Open, Japan Open, Denmark Open, and Fuzhou China Open. He gained more visibility when he took part in the 2011 World Junior Championships in Taiwan and joined the Japanese national team soon after.
Both Chen Long and Kento Momota have impressive achievements under their belts. While Chen Long has more titles, Momota has been able to edge out Chen Long in their head-to-head matches. As of 2019, Momota has 5 wins against Chen Long in men's singles matches, with China also having 5 wins. This close rivalry showcases the talent and skill of both players, with Momota just edging out Chen Long in their direct confrontations.
While the title of GOAT in badminton is often given to Lin Dan, Chen Long and Kento Momota are both strong contenders for this title. Their achievements and impact on the sport are undeniable, and their head-to-head record further highlights their competitiveness. Chen Long may have a slight edge in overall achievements, but Momota's ability to beat him consistently puts him in a strong position to challenge for the GOAT title.
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Women's doubles: Yu Yang is statistically the GOAT
While the title of the greatest badminton player of all time (GOAT) in the men's singles category is widely regarded as Lin Dan, the women's doubles category has a strong contender in Yu Yang. Yu Yang, a retired Chinese badminton player, specialised in doubles and enjoyed a highly successful career.
Yu Yang is a three-time World Champion, four-time Asian Champion, and an Olympic gold medalist. She was part of the Chinese national team that won four Sudirman Cups, three Uber Cups, two Asian Games, and an Asia Team Championship. In addition to her achievements with the national team, Yu Yang and her regular partner Du Jing emerged as one of the world's elite women's doubles teams. They won numerous titles, including the Polish Open in 2004, the China Masters in 2005, the Asian Championships and Swiss Open in 2006, and the French, South Korea, and Singapore Opens in 2008.
Yu Yang also found success in mixed doubles with her partner He Hanbin. They captured titles at the Badminton Asia Championships and the Thailand and Denmark Opens in 2007, as well as several other international opens in 2008. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Yu Yang and Du Jing won the gold medal, defeating South Korea's Lee Hyo-jung and Lee Kyung-won. This achievement further solidified Yu Yang's status as one of the top doubles players in the world.
However, Yu Yang's career also faced a setback in 2012 when she and her new partner, Wang Xiaoli, were disqualified from the Summer Olympics. They, along with three other teams, were accused of "not using their best efforts to win a match" and "conducting themselves in a manner detrimental to the sport." Despite this controversy, Yu Yang's achievements and dominance in the women's doubles category make her a strong contender for the title of GOAT in badminton. Her success on the court, both with Du Jing and with other partners, has left an indelible mark on the sport, solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest women's doubles players in badminton history.
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Frequently asked questions
While there is some debate, many consider Lin Dan to be the GOAT of badminton. By the age of 28, Lin had won the "Super Grand Slam", taking gold in all nine major badminton titles. He was also the first men's singles player to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Viktor Axelsen is considered the European GOAT of badminton.
Yu Yang is considered the women's doubles GOAT of badminton, based on her superior statistics.
Zheng Siwei and Zhang Nan are considered the GOATs of mixed doubles.
