Biography & Career Of Viktor Axelsen

2 months ago

Biography & Career Of Viktor Axelsen

Viktor Axelsen is a Danish badminton player who has achieved remarkable feats in his sport.

He is the current number-one ranked men’s singles player, a two-time World Champion, and the reigning Olympic Champion.

He is also the first European singles player to win the World Junior Championships and the only player to have won the World Championships in three continents.

Early Life & Education

Viktor Axelsen, who turned 29 in 2023, was born on January 4, 1994, in Odense, Denmark, to Henrik and Gitte Axelsen.

He is an only child and grew up in a middle-class family. His father is a former badminton player and manager, while his mother is a nurse. He started playing badminton at six, following his father’s footsteps.

He joined the local club Odense Badminton Klub and showed great talent and passion for the sport. He won his first national junior title in 2006 when he was 12.

He attended the Odense International School and later the Odense Katedralskole, where he balanced his studies and badminton training.

He graduated from high school in 2012 and decided to pursue a professional career in badminton.

Personal Life

Viktor Axelsen is in a relationship with Natalia Koch Rohde, a Danish badminton player in the women’s doubles category.

They met at the national training center in Copenhagen and started dating in 2015. They often share their love and support for each other on social media and attend events together.

They live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where they train and enjoy the warm weather. They have two daughters, named Vega Rohde Axelsen and Aya Rohde Axelsen.

He learned Mandarin from his Chinese coach and friends and often used it to communicate with his fans and opponents from China. He is also interested in Chinese culture and history and likes to watch Chinese movies and read Chinese books.

He is a fan of the Chinese martial arts actor Jackie Chan, and he has a tattoo of his name in Chinese characters on his right arm. He is also a fan of the Danish football team and the American basketball team Los Angeles Lakers.

Career

Viktor Axelsen has had a stellar career in badminton, winning numerous titles and accolades. He made his international debut 2009 when he represented Denmark at the European Mixed Team Championships.

He became the first European singles player to win the World Junior Championships in 2010, beating the Korean Kang Ji-wook in the final.

He also won the silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore that year. He made his senior debut in 2011 and won his first Grand Prix title at the Bitburger Open. He also reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships in London, losing to the eventual champion Lin Dan of China.

He continued to improve his game and ranking and won his first Superseries title at the India Open in 2015.

He also reached the semi-finals of the All England Open, the World Championships, and the Rio Olympics in 2016, losing to Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei on all three occasions.

He finally broke his jinx and won his first World Championship title in 2017, beating the Chinese star Chen Long in the final.

He also became the world’s number-one ranked player for the first time that year. He defended his World Championship title 2019, beating the Indonesian ace Anthony Ginting in the final.

That year, he also won the BWF World Tour Finals, beating the Chinese sensation Shi Yuqi in the final. He achieved his dream of becoming the Olympic Champion in 2020, beating the Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen in the final. He also won the Thomas Cup with the Danish team that year, beating Indonesia in the final.

He became the first player to win the World Championships in three different continents and the second to win the World Championships, the Olympic Games, and the Thomas Cup, after Lin Dan.

He maintained his dominance in the badminton circuit and won his third World Championship title in 2022, beating the Indian star Kidambi Srikanth in the final.

He also won the All-England Open, the Indonesia Open, and the Denmark Open that year. He is the current number-one ranked player globally and has won 18 Superseries and World Tour titles.

Controversy

Viktor Axelsen has occasionally faced some criticism or backlash for his outspokenness, such as when he complained about the poor air quality and shuttlecock quality at the 2018 India Open or when he criticized the Badminton World Federation for its lack of transparency and communication regarding the tournament calendar and the ranking system.

However, he has always clarified his intentions and apologized for any misunderstanding or offense caused by his comments.