Viktor Axelsen

1. Early life

Axelsen was born in Odense, Denmark, on 4 January 1994, to Henrik Axelsen and Gitte Lundager. His father introduced him to badminton at the age of six, where he began playing at the Odense badminton club. After his parents' divorce, Axelsen lived with his father. At 17, he moved to Copenhagen to live alone and join the national team. His father, Henrik, initially ran a small advertising agency but now works full-time as Axelsen's manager. His mother, Gitte, owns a shop in central Odense that features a hairdressing salon, cosmetics, and fashion clothing. In 2004, the Odense badminton club recognized Axelsen as their Player of the Year.

2. Junior career

Axelsen's early achievements in badminton began with victories in national junior events. He won both the boys' singles and doubles titles in his age group in 2006 and 2008. In 2009, he emerged victorious at the German Junior tournament and also claimed the title at the European U17 Championships.

His international junior career saw significant milestones. In 2010, at the 2010 BWF World Junior Championships held in Guadalajara, Mexico, Axelsen made history by becoming the first non-Asian singles player to win the boys' singles title. On his path to gold, he defeated top-seeded Huang Yuxiang of China in the quarter-finals, B. Sai Praneeth of India in the semi-finals, and Kang Ji-wook of South Korea in the final. The following year, in 2011, he secured a gold medal at the 2011 European Junior Badminton Championships in Vantaa, Finland, by defeating his Danish teammate Rasmus Fladberg with scores of 21-8, 17-21, 21-13 in the final. Later in 2011, he earned a silver medal at the 2011 BWF World Junior Championships, where he lost the final to Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia.

3. Early professional career

Axelsen made his senior international tournament debut at the 2009 Denmark Open, competing in the men's doubles event alongside Steffen Rasmussen. In January 2010, at the age of 16, he reached the final of the Swedish International tournament, starting from the qualification round, but finished as the runner-up after losing to Indra Bagus Ade Chandra in straight games. A few weeks later, he claimed his first international senior title by winning the Cyprus International. He then entered his first Super Series event in singles, the 2010 Denmark Open, where he advanced through the qualifying stages before being defeated by compatriot and eventual winner Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the second round.

In early 2012, Axelsen relocated to Valby, Copenhagen, to train at the Brøndby elite center. That year, he finished as runner-up at the French Open in Paris, losing to Liew Daren in the final. He also secured a bronze medal at the 2012 European Badminton Championships, falling to Sweden's Henri Hurskainen in a three-game semi-final match.

In 2014, Axelsen achieved his first Grand Prix title at the 2014 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, defeating China's Tian Houwei in a closely contested final with a score of 21-7, 16-21, 25-23. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2014 BWF World Championships and another bronze medal at the 2014 European Badminton Championships.

The 2015 season saw Axelsen reach the finals of several significant tournaments, finishing as runner-up at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold and three Super Series events: the India Open, Australian Open, and Japan Open. He qualified for the 2015 BWF Super Series Finals in Dubai, where he again finished as runner-up. He concluded the 2015 season ranked as world No. 6.

4. Major individual titles

Viktor Axelsen has achieved remarkable success in individual tournaments, securing titles across the most prestigious international competitions.

5. Team career

Axelsen has been a pivotal member of the Danish national badminton team, contributing significantly to their success in various team competitions.

He has led the Denmark team to win every European Mixed Team Badminton Championships since 2015, securing gold medals in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025. Similarly, he has been part of the Danish team that won all European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships since 2012, with gold medals in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2024.

In the prestigious Thomas Cup, Axelsen played a crucial role in Denmark's historic victory in 2016. The team won their first-ever Thomas Cup title at the 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup in Kunshan, China, becoming the first non-Asian nation to do so. Axelsen won five of his six singles matches in the tournament, including a decisive 21-17, 21-18 victory over Indonesia's experienced player Tommy Sugiarto in the final, which sealed a dramatic 3-2 win for Denmark. He also contributed to Denmark's bronze medal finishes in the Thomas Cup in 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2022. In 2024, Denmark reached the quarter-finals before losing to Chinese Taipei.

In the Sudirman Cup, the world mixed team championship, Axelsen was part of the Danish team that won a bronze medal in 2013. The team reached the quarter-finals in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

6. Career records and statistics

Axelsen's career statistics reflect his consistent performance at the highest level of badminton. As of late 2024, his overall singles record stands at 555 wins and 154 losses, resulting in a balance of +401. In doubles, he has played one match, resulting in one loss.

His head-to-head records against selected opponents, including Year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists, are as follows (accurate as of 17 September 2024):

7. Personal life

In addition to his native Danish, Axelsen is fluent in both English and Mandarin. He was given the Chinese name 安賽龍_{An Sailong}^Chinese by his teacher while studying in Beijing.

In August 2021, Axelsen made the decision to leave the Danish national team's training base in Copenhagen and relocate with his family to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He trains at the NAS Sports Complex (Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex) there. Axelsen cited several reasons for this move, including shorter travel times to most events in Asia, which allows him more time for rest and warm-up. Health was another significant factor, as he suffers from asthma and acute rhinitis. The climate in Asia is generally more comfortable for him than in Europe, particularly Denmark, where cooler temperatures can more easily trigger his allergies to pollen, dust, or animal dander. Finally, family considerations played a role, as he desired more time with his family.

Axelsen is married to former Danish badminton player Natalia Koch Rohde. They have two daughters: Vega Rohde Axelsen, born on 15 October 2020, and Aya Rohde Axelsen, born on 7 October 2022. Natalia's father, Henrik Rohde, who was the head coach of the winning Skovshoved team in the Danish league in 2017, also assists in coaching Axelsen since his move to Dubai.

8. Awards and honors

Viktor Axelsen has received significant recognition for his achievements in badminton:

• BWF Male Player of the Year: He has been awarded this prestigious honor twice, for the 2020/2021 season and again in 2022.
• BWF Players' Male Player of the Year: In 2024, he was recognized by his peers with this award.
• Danish Sports Name of the Year: Axelsen was named the Danish Sports Name of the Year in 2017.

9. Legacy and influence

Viktor Axelsen's consistent success and dominance have left a significant mark on the sport of badminton. His back-to-back Olympic gold medals and multiple World and European titles solidify his position as one of the greatest men's singles players of all time. As a non-Asian player achieving such unprecedented success in a sport traditionally dominated by Asian athletes, Axelsen serves as an inspiration and a role model globally. His fluency in Mandarin Chinese has also helped him connect with a large fanbase in Asia, further expanding the sport's reach and popularity. His professional approach to training, including his relocation to Dubai for optimal conditions, showcases a dedication that influences aspiring players worldwide.