Decades of dominance
The 2016 Rio Olympics witnessed a transfer of power for world men's badminton. Riocentro stadium was packed with spectators, ready to witness legend Lin Dan - who is considered the greatest player in history - win his 3rd consecutive Olympic medal. After losing in the semi-finals to long-time rival Lee Chong Wei, the Chinese superstar aimed for a bronze medal. At that time, Lin Dan was still the center of all eyes, while Axelsen was only seen as a young talent with great potential but not yet perfect.
But a surprise happened. On the other side of the court, the 22-year-old tall guy Axelsen silenced the entire stand, which was enthusiastically cheering for the 5-time world champion. It was a moment of transition, a generational change, when the young Danish player then entered a period of dominance lasting nearly a decade, before surprisingly announcing his retirement on April 15.
Today is not an easy day for me. Due to recurrent problems in my back, I can no longer compete and train at the highest level," the 32-year-old Danish tennis player shared on social media, "Accepting this reality is extremely difficult. But I have reached a point where my body no longer allows me to continue." The share is short but clearly reflects the long battle he has gone through.
The former world No. 1 has struggled with back injuries in recent seasons, undergoing many surgeries. And finally, after many years of enduring physical problems, his body could not continue. In the 2022-2024 period, he had to adjust his schedule many times, even withdrawing from major tournaments to preserve his fitness.
Heritage
But before that, Axelsen had built a remarkable legacy compared to many other champions, setting a series of records and leaving unforgettable memories for badminton fans. He is truly Lin Dan's successor, winning 2 consecutive Olympic Gold Medals in Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, becoming the third singles player to do this, after Zhang Ning (women's singles 2004, 2008) and Lin Dan himself (2008, 2012). In Tokyo, he defeated Chen Long in the final; while in Paris, he affirmed his position with a journey almost without a worthy opponent.
Axelsen also won 2 world championships (2017, 2022) and 2 All England titles (2020, 2022), besides holding the world number 1 position for 183 weeks - the third longest time in history, after Lee Chong Wei (398 weeks) and Lin Dan (211 weeks). In particular, the period 2021 - 2023 is considered the absolute peak, when he won most of the major tournaments he participated in.
But above all, it is the dominance on the court that is outstanding, creating long-term influence. With a height of 1m94, arm span, the agility of his hits and Axelsen's ability to encroach, the opponent is suffocated.
What makes the difference is professionalism and discipline, helping him reach a level where the court seems to narrow down to the opponent and expand to himself. Each shot from the opponent is like a "death sentence" for the ball, while each of his defenses is like a deliberate preparation for the next finishing blow.
Rebel
But the greatest praise for Axelsen lies in his evolution, when combining the traditional European power play with the haunting technical accuracy of Asian badminton. This is also the reason he has become a new model for many young players outside of Asia.
Axelsen not only challenges himself but also challenges the traditional structures of sports, which are often rigid and more or less maintain the existing order. To prioritize and elevate his playing style, he moved his training location from Denmark to Dubai in 2021 - the biggest rebellion in his career.
When leaving the national training center in Brondby, he also left the Danish system to reduce travel time to Asia - the center of world badminton - while better controlling asthma and allergic rhinitis. But the more important reason is that he wants to fully control his environment.
Axelsen received a lot of criticism at home, but he still maintained his position, breaking the federation's monopoly. He arranged his own finances, coaching staff, support personnel, and invited top players from all over the world (including Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty) to train in his own ecosystem. This "open border" approach had almost never appeared before in international badminton. It creates a flexible environment where players can exchange and learn without being bound by national borders.
In parallel with that, he is also a strong supporter of athlete rights, repeatedly publicly criticizing the World Badminton Federation for its dense schedule causing injuries, slow payment of bonuses and penalties (typically in 2023 with a fine of 5,000 USD), as well as speaking out about issues that many other players are concerned about.
In a major step different from the Western world, Axelsen also learned Chinese to be able to communicate directly with a large number of fans in Asia, thereby building his personal brand. The ability to connect with many different cultures (especially in India, where he has a large fan base) is rare before. He often uses Chinese on social networks and at events, which helps him become closer to Asian audiences.
These things clearly show Axelsen's "solo driver" thinking, both inside and outside the arena. In Dubai, he often plays the role of his own coach, proving that an athlete can reach absolute peak by believing in himself. That is not a popular path, but for Axelsen, it is the most suitable path.
He became a "lone wolf" because he did not want tradition to hinder excellence. He bet on himself - and won.
