Lin Dan

Lin Dan (林丹)

Lin Dan (林丹) is a world champion player on China's national badminton team. He is the reigning Olympic champion and many consider him to be the greatest badminton player of all time.

Born on Oct. 14, 1983 in Longyan, Fujian Province, Lin chose to start playing badminton at the age of 5. He entered the Fujian Sports School at the age of 9 and joined the Fuzhou Bayi Sports Team (at a military sports school) at the age of 12. He became part of China's national badminton team at the age of 18. In August 2002, Lin ranked first on the International Badminton Federation (IBF) list. In 2008, he won the men's singles Olympic title during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Since starting his professional career in 2001, Lin has won an impressive total of 66 championship titles. His trophies include five national titles, seven intercontinental ones, 39 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Open titles, and 15 world titles.

Because of this top seeded shuttler's numerous championship titles, Lin earned himself the nickname "Super Dan". Standing at 178 cm and weighing in at 72 kg, Lin has a unique and distinctive sense of fashion. He teamed up with designers to create his own line of LD sportswear and often holds media conferences to promote the collections to a wider audience. His wife Xie Xingfang is also a former player on China's national badminton team. She retired as a professional athlete in November 2009.

The following are some of the titles Lin has won between 2000 and 2011.

Junior championships:

In 2000, Lin won the Men's Team and Men's Singles during the Asian Youth Championships.

In 2000, he won the Men's Singles during the World Youth Championships.

In 2001, he won the Men's Singles during the Holland Youth Open.

In 2001, he won the Men's Singles during the German Youth Open.

Men's championships:

In 2004, Lin was the National Team's top player at the 23rd Thomas Cup.

In 2005, he was the National Team's top player at the 9th Sudirman Cup.

In 2005, he won the Men's Singles title at the Yiyang World Cup.

In 2006, he was the National Team's top player at the 24th Thomas Cup.

In 2006, he won the Men's Singles title at the Spanish Badminton World Championships.

In 2006 he won the Men's Singles title at the Yiyang World Cup.

In 2007, he was the National Team's top player at the 10th Sudirman Cup.

In 2007, he won the Men's Singles title at the Malaysian Badminton World Championships.

In 2008, he was the National Team's top player at the 25th Thomas Cup.

In 2008, he won the Men's Singles title at the Beijing Olympic Games.

In 2009, he was the National Team's top player at the 11th Sudirman Cup.

In 2009, he won the Men's Singles title at the Indian Badminton World Championships.

In 2010, he was the National Team's top player at the 26th Thomas Cup.

In 2011, he was the National Team's top player at the 12th Sudirman Cup.

In 2011, he won the Men's Singles title at the British World Championships.