Viktor Axelsen, Badminton Legend, Retires at 32 Due to Back Injury
Viktor Axelsen, the two-time Olympic and world champion, has announced his retirement at the age of 32 due to persistent back issues. Known for his remarkable achievements, Axelsen secured Olympic gold medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, along with a bronze medal at Rio 2016. As one of the most accomplished men's singles players in badminton history, Axelsen boasts four European titles and World Championship crowns from 2017 and 2022. In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, he expressed the difficulty of his decision: "Today is not an easy day for me. Due to my recurrent back issues, I am no longer able to compete and train at the highest level. Accepting this situation has been incredibly difficult. But I have now reached a point where my body won't allow me to continue." Axelsen held the world number one ranking for over 100 consecutive weeks, second only to Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei, who dominated for 349 weeks. His accolades include five titles at the season-ending World Tour Finals and ten victories in Super 1000 tournaments. Reflecting on his career, Axelsen stated, "I have accomplished everything I once dreamed of, and more. What makes it hardest to say goodbye is not the competition itself, but everything around it. The journey, the daily grind, the people. I have given everything to this sport. It has never been just a career to me. It has been my life and I have left no stone unturned."
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-15