1. Overview
Steen Fladberg (full name Steen Fladberg Nielsen), born on October 11, 1956, is a prominent former Danish badminton player. He was particularly known for his exceptional speed of foot during his professional career in the 1980s. Although a strong international singles player, Fladberg achieved his most significant successes in doubles categories, including men's doubles and mixed doubles. His major accomplishments include a gold medal in men's doubles at the 1983 IBF World Championships, complementing a silver and a bronze in mixed doubles at the same event and the 1980 World Championships respectively. He also secured an impressive five gold medals at the European Badminton Championships and three silver medals at the Badminton World Cup. After retiring from professional play, he has held a directorship position at Sport One Denmark and has worked as a television badminton commentator. He is also notable for being part of a prominent badminton family, with his wife Kirsten Larsen and son Rasmus Fladberg also being professional badminton players.
2. Early Life
Steen Fladberg was born Steen Fladberg Nielsen on October 11, 1956, in Denmark. While specific details about his early background are not widely known, he embarked on his badminton career, distinguishing himself early on with his remarkable speed of foot.
3. Career
Steen Fladberg's professional badminton career, spanning the 1980s, was marked by his distinctive speed and tactical prowess, particularly in doubles play. He consistently ranked among the top international players, securing numerous titles and medals across various prestigious tournaments. Although he was a strong international-level singles player, his greatest achievements were realized in the doubles categories.
3.1. Major Achievements Overview
Steen Fladberg's illustrious career saw him clinch multiple medals at the highest levels of international badminton. His notable achievements include:
- World Championships:
- One gold medal in men's doubles (1983, with Jesper Helledie).
- One silver medal in mixed doubles (1983, with Pia Nielsen).
- One bronze medal in mixed doubles (1980, with Pia Nielsen).
- World Cup:
- Three silver medals in mixed doubles (1985, 1986, 1987).
- World Senior Championships:
- Three gold medals in age-group categories: mixed doubles 40+ (2003), men's doubles 45+ (2003), and men's doubles 50+ (2009).
- Thomas Cup:
- One silver medal in the men's team event (1979).
- One bronze medal in the men's team event (1982).
- European Championships:
- Five gold medals: mixed team (1980), men's doubles (1986, with Jesper Helledie), mixed team (1986), mixed doubles (1988, with Gillian Clark), and mixed team (1988).
- One silver medal in men's doubles (1988).
- One bronze medal in the mixed team event (1982).
3.2. Detailed Tournament Results
This section provides a comprehensive breakdown of Steen Fladberg's performances and medal acquisitions in various badminton tournaments throughout his career.
3.2.1. World Championships
Fladberg competed successfully in the IBF World Championships, earning medals in both men's and mixed doubles.
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Martin Dew (England) Mike Tredgett (England) | 15-10, 15-10 |  Gold |
Mixed doubles
3.2.2. World Cup
Fladberg notably secured three silver medals in mixed doubles at the Badminton World Cup.
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Nora Perry (England) | Christian Hadinata (Indonesia) Ivana Lie (Indonesia) | 11-15, 17-18 |  Silver |
| 1986 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | Gillian Clark (England) | Eddy Hartono (Indonesia) Verawaty Fadjrin (Indonesia) | 8-15, 15-17 | Silver |
| 1987 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Gillian Clark (England) | Wang Pengren (China) Shi Fangjing (China) | 11-15, 15-1, 4-15 | Silver |
3.2.3. European Championships
Fladberg achieved significant success at the European Badminton Championships, securing multiple gold and silver medals across men's and mixed doubles.
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Stefan Karlsson (Sweden) Thomas Kihlström (Sweden) | 15-12, 18-17 | Gold |
| 1988 | Badmintonsenteret, Kristiansand, Norway | Jan Paulsen (Denmark) | Michael Kjeldsen (Denmark) Jens Peter Nierhoff (Denmark) | 9-15, 11-15 | Silver |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Badmintonsenteret, Kristiansand, Norway | Gillian Clark (England) | Alex Meijer (Netherlands) Erica van Dijck (Netherlands) | 17-16, 4-15, 15-10 | Gold |
3.2.4. World Senior Championships
After his main professional career, Fladberg continued to compete at a high level in the World Senior Championships, winning three gold medals.
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Event | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Winter Sports Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria | Men's doubles 45+ | Claus Andersen (Denmark) | Leon Douglas (Scotland) Dan Travers (Scotland) | Gold | |
| 2009 | Pabellón Municipal de Deportes, Punta Umbría, Spain | Men's doubles 50+ | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Surapong Suharitdumrong (Thailand) Taveesup Waranusast (Thailand) | 21-13, 20-22, 21-16 | Gold |
Mixed doubles
3.2.5. IBF World Grand Prix
The International Badminton Federation (IBF) World Grand Prix was a series of tournaments sanctioned from 1983 to 2006. Fladberg was a regular participant, achieving several titles and runner-up finishes.
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Malaysia Open | Yang Yang (China) | 15-4, 10-15, 7-15 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Swedish Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Stefan Karlsson (Sweden) Thomas Kihlström (Sweden) | 4-15, 18-13, 15-10 | Winner |
| 1984 | Chinese Taipei Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Stefan Karlsson (Sweden) Thomas Kihlström (Sweden) | 3-15, 6-15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Hong Kong Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Mark Christiansen (Denmark) Michael Kjeldsen (Denmark) | 15-8, 7-15, 15-12 | Winner |
| 1985 | Dutch Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Mark Christiansen (Denmark) Michael Kjeldsen (Denmark) | 15-8, 15-9 | Winner |
| 1985 | Scandinavian Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Martin Dew (England) Dipak Tailor (England) | 15-12, 15-9 | Winner |
| 1986 | German Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Kim Moon-soo (South Korea) Park Joo-bong (South Korea) | 8-15, 12-15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Scandinavian Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Martin Dew (England) Dipak Tailor (England) | 15-9, 15-18, 15-7 | Winner |
| 1986 | Carlton-Intersport Cup | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Martin Dew (England) Dipak Tailor (England) | 9-15, 14-18 | Runner-up |
| 1988 | German Open | Jan Paulsen (Denmark) | Chen Hongyong (China) Chen Kang (China) | 15-8, 6-15, 18-13 | Winner |
| 1989 | Poona Open | Jesper Knudsen (Denmark) | Zhang Qiang (China) Zhou Jincan (China) | 10-15, 6-15 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Dutch Open | Gitte Paulsen (Denmark) | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) Dorte Kjær (Denmark) | 15-9, 15-11 | Winner |
| 1985 | English Masters | Gitte Paulsen (Denmark) | Billy Gilliland (Scotland) Gillian Gowers (England) | 7-15, 5-15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Malaysia Open | Gillian Gilks (England) | Bobby Ertanto (Indonesia) Verawaty Fadjrin (Indonesia) | 7-15, 15-18 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Indonesia Open | Gillian Clark (England) | Steve Baddeley (England) Gillian Gowers (England) | 15-5, 15-4 | Winner |
| 1987 | Chinese Taipei Open | Gillian Clark (England) | Billy Gilliland (Scotland) Gillian Gowers (England) | 15-7, 14-18, 15-5 | Winner |
| 1987 | Malaysia Open | Gillian Clark (England) | Billy Gilliland (Scotland) Gillian Gowers (England) | 15-7, 15-6 | Winner |
| 1988 | Poona Open | Gillian Clark (England) | Nils Skeby (Denmark) Dorte Kjær (Denmark) | 15-8, 15-6 | Winner |
| 1988 | German Open | Gillian Clark (England) | Martin Dew (England) Gillian Gilks (England) | 9-15, 18-14, 15-4 | Winner |
| 1988 | Thailand Open | Gillian Clark (England) | Wang Pengren (China) Shi Fangjing (China) | 17-14, 4-15, 15-9 | Winner |
| 1988 | English Masters | Gillian Clark (England) | Jesper Knudsen (Denmark) Nettie Nielsen (Denmark) | 11-15, 6-15 | Runner-up |
3.2.6. IBF International Tournaments
Fladberg also competed extensively in various other international tournaments organized by the International Badminton Federation (IBF).
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Swiss Open | Hans Olaf Birkholm (Denmark) | 15-6, 15-4 | Winner |
| 1977 | Swiss Open | Gert Helsholt (Denmark) | Runner-up | |
| 1976 | Czechoslovakian International | Michael Schnaase (Germany) | Runner-up | |
| 1978 | Norwegian International | Winner | ||
| 1979 | Czechoslovakian International | Jens Peter Nierhoff (Denmark) | 15-9, 15-2 | Winner |
| 1980 | Canadian Open | Morten Frost (Denmark) | 7-15, 11-15 | Runner-up |
| 1983 | German Open | Misbun Sidek (Malaysia) | 13-18, 6-15 | Runner-up |
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Czechoslovakian International | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Wolfgang Bochow (Germany) Roland Maywald (Germany) | Runner-up | |
| 1978 | Norwegian International | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Winner | ||
| 1979 | Swedish Open | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Flemming Delfs (Denmark) Steen Skovgaard (Denmark) | 12-15, 15-12, 10-15 | Runner-up |
| 1979 | Dutch Open | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Elliot Stuart (England) Derek Talbot (England) | 8-15, 17-18 | Runner-up |
| 1979 | Czechoslovakian International | Jens Peter Nierhoff (Denmark) | Kenneth Larsen (Denmark) Mogens Neergaard (Denmark) | 15-11, 15-11 | Winner |
| 1980 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Claes Nordin (Sweden) Lars Wengberg (Sweden) | 3-15, 15-3, 15-11 | Winner |
| 1980 | Copenhagen Cup | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Flemming Delfs (Denmark) Steen Skovgaard (Denmark) | 8-15, 6-15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Flemming Delfs (Denmark) Steen Skovgaard (Denmark) | 15-9, 15-5 | Winner |
| 1981 | Scandinavian Cup | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Luan Jin (China) Lin Jiangli (China) | 11-15, 15-6, 12-15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | German Open | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Jiang Guoliang (China) He Shangquan (China) | 15-5, 15-6 | Winner |
| 1982 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) Steen Skovgaard (Denmark) | 15-6, 15-18, 15-6 | Winner |
| 1983 | Dutch Open | Jesper Helledie (Denmark) | Martin Dew (England) Mike Tredgett (England) | 18-13, 15-10 | Winner |
| 1986 | Nordic Championships | Morten Frost (Denmark) | Jan-Eric Antonsson (Sweden) Pär-Gunnar Jönsson (Sweden) | 15-10, 15-12 | Winner |
| 1987 | Nordic Championships | Jan Paulsen (Denmark) | Max Gandrup (Sweden) Thomas Lund (Denmark) | 15-12, 18-15 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Norwegian International | Lonny Bostofte (Denmark) | Winner | ||
| 1980 | Canadian Open | Johanne Falardeau (Canada) | Mike Tredgett (England) Nora Perry (England) | 7-15, 9-15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | German Open | Pia Nielsen (Denmark) | Rob Ridder (Netherlands) Marjan Ridder (Netherlands) | 12-15, 15-10, 15-10 | Winner |
| 1982 | Scandinavian Cup | Pia Nielsen (Denmark) | Thomas Kihlström (Sweden) Nora Perry (England) | 15-18, 12-15 | Runner-up |
| 1983 | German Open | Pia Nielsen (Denmark) | Dipak Tailor (England) Gillian Clark (England) | 11-15, 15-12, 15-11 | Winner |
| 1983 | Nordic Championships | Grete Mogensen (Denmark) | Thomas Kihlström (Sweden) Maria Bengtsson (Sweden) | 2-15, 15-9, 5-15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Malaysia Master | Nora Perry (England) | Thomas Kihlström (Sweden) Christine Magnusson (Sweden) | 15-9, 15-5 | Winner |
| 1985 | Malaysia Master | Nora Perry (England) | Martin Dew (England) Gillian Gilks (England) | 17-15, 15-12 | Winner |
| 1985 | Malaysia Master | Nora Perry (England) | Stefan Karlsson (Sweden) Maria Bengtsson (Sweden) | 15-10, 9-15, 10-15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Nordic Championships | Gitte Paulsen (Denmark) | Jan-Eric Antonsson (Sweden) Maria Bengtsson (Sweden) | 16-17, 3-15 | Runner-up |
4. Post-Retirement Career
After concluding his professional playing career, Steen Fladberg transitioned into significant roles within the sport. He currently serves as a director at Sport One Denmark, a sports management and marketing agency. Additionally, Fladberg has leveraged his extensive experience in badminton by working as a television commentator, often forming a commentary team with former English badminton player Gillian Clark.
5. Personal Life
Steen Fladberg is married to Kirsten Larsen, a former distinguished Danish badminton player who herself achieved considerable success, including a gold medal at the 1983 World Championships in women's singles. Their son, Rasmus Fladberg, has followed in their footsteps and is also a professional badminton player, continuing the family's legacy in the sport.