By Rahul Venkat
A world champion, an Olympic gold medalist, a top ranker, a highest earner—the list of Viktor Axelsen’s titles and accomplishments goes on and on. Here are the stepping stones he climbed to build a head-spinning career and become one of the best badminton players of all time.
Viktor Axelsen’s Early Life and Career
At the outset, there was no well-defined premise for Viktor Axelsen’s career as a badminton player. Neither his father, Henrik Axelsen, nor his mother, Gitte Lundager, were professionally engaged in sports. Yet, it was his dad who encouraged young Viktor to pick up a racket.
In 2000, Henrik Axelsen took his six-year-old son to a badminton club in their hometown of Odense for the first time. Viktor’s passion for the sport ignited right then and there. He started frequenting the club and dedicating a good deal of time to training, which eventually paid off.
The badminton prodigy quickly became second to none on the club level and set off on a bigger journey. In 2006, then at the age of 12, he won the national junior title in both single and doubles disciplines. Three years later, the Dane was crowned the strongest junior player in Europe.
Source: mytour.vn
The 2009 Denmark Open was his maiden international competition and first senior appearance. In tandem with Steffen Rasmussen, Viktor Axelsen performed in doubles but failed to go further than qualifying. Soon after, however, he bounced back and established himself as a promising talent. The following are Viktor Axelsen badminton feats accomplished early in his career:
- Second place at the 2010 Swedish International Stockholm.
- Gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships.
- Champion title at the 2010 Cyprus International.
- Gold medal at the 2011 European Junior Championships.
- Silver medal at the 2011 World Junior Championships.
- Champion title at the 2011 Spanish International.
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Major Achievements and Milestones
After his auspicious junior and early senior performances, Axelsen’s career was only picking up steam, and his enormous potential was being unlocked with each new season. The player consistently demonstrated excellence on the court, collecting titles in major international events.
Here are the pivotal milestones in his senior career journey and what they are remarkable for:
- The year 2014 was a productive season for the Dane that brought him victory at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, a bronze medal at the Badminton World Championships, and a second bronze medal at the European Championships—the first he clinched at 18 two years earlier.
- In 2016, Axelsen not only improved his badminton tournament results but also debuted successfully at the Olympics. He took bronze at the Rio Games, became the European champion, and lifted the Thomas Cup after brilliantly performing as part of the Danish team.
- The following year, 2017, witnessed another significant milestone in the Dane’s glittering career. He was crowned a badminton world champion, which, coupled with his triumph at the BWF Superseries event in Japan, elevated him to the world’s highest badminton ranking position.
- In 2021, the player showcased his supremacy on the court through a number of outstanding achievements. Within one year alone, he became the Denmark Open title holder, an Olympic badminton champion, the Male Player of the Year, and the BWF World Tour Finals winner.
Source: gettyimages.in
In the years that followed, Viktor solidified his status as a superstar of the game, securing a third champion title in Europe and second globally. Moreover, his second Olympic gold medal has placed him not only on the top badminton players 2024 list but also on the all-time greats roster.
Playing Style and Technique
If it hadn’t been for his exceptional playing style and masterful technique, Axelsen wouldn’t have achieved all of the above. Since his first steps in the sport, he has kept to a strict regimen and spent considerable time at training facilities, developing and polishing his badminton skills.
The result is his multiple wins over more heavyweight players. The Dane’s ruthless attack with strong, quick, and accurate shots catches his opponents off guard while earning him points. His signature attacking shot is the one he hits hard from the rival’s lift, which he forces him to play.
Superb footwork is another notable skill of the badminton phenom, allowing him to cover the entire court efficiently. No matter how tricky the opponent’s shot may be, Viktor can reach the shuttle in no time anywhere on the rectangle without excessive moves and energy spending.
At 1.94 meters tall, Axelsen takes advantage of his impressive height when executing multi-angle shots and moving all around the court. In addition, he’s been working continuously on his physique to amplify his natural abilities and achieve greater power, speed, and stamina.
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Viktor Axelsen’s Rivalries and Key Competitions
For more than twenty years of his professional career, the Dane has become a badminton icon, grown a huge international fanbase, and faced off against A-list players on the world’s premium courts. Below are some of the most memorable Viktor Axelsen matches and rivalries.
- The final of the 2016 Thomas Cup is well-remembered as Viktor Axelsen’s showdown with Tommy Sugiarto. Both were bronze medalists at the 2014 World Championships, yet the Dane outperformed the Indonesian and brought his country its inaugural title.
- In the third-place match at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Viktor confronted Lin Dan, a legendary Chinese player who had won two Olympic gold medals and five world champion titles. Despite the opponent’s strength and experience, he pulled out a win.
- At the next Tokyo-based Olympics, the young Danish talent advanced to the final, where he met the reigning champion and former world No. 1, Chen Long. Axelsen emerged victorious, avenging his defeat to the Chinese in the semi-finals at the previous Games.
- The 2023 China Open was among the most riveting badminton tournaments to watch, especially the Viktor Axelsen vs. Lu Guangzu final. Not only did the Dane beat the rival, but he also completed the Grand Slam with a full suite of the BWF Super 1000 titles.
- In the decisive match of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Dane had to defend his gold medal by playing against Kunlavut Vitidsarn, a rising Thai prospect and then world champion. Yet the Danish powerhouse proved unrivaled and won his consecutive gold.
Conclusion
In the world of badminton, traditionally dominated by Asian athletes, Viktor Axelsen is nothing short of a marvel. Since stepping onto the court for the first time, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the game and was adamant in his ambition to become the best.
The burning desire of the Dane has come true. He rose to the top of the rankings and earned every title imaginable, including European and world crowns and Olympic medals. One of the most celebrated players, Axelsen is now in his prime and ready to climb new career heights.
