IN 2012, an 18-year-old Viktor Axelsen watched in awe as his idol Lin Dan won his second Olympic gold medal. Four years later, the Dane beat the Chinese legend for the bronze medal.
On Monday, Axelsen was over the over the moon after he had emulated his idol and won his second straight gold medal, beating Thailand’s reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-11, 21-11 in the final in 52 minutes at Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle.
Lin Dan and Axelsen are the only two men’s singles players to win back-to-back titles in the OIympics. Lin Dan won in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 while Axelsen had also won in Tokyo 2021.
“I never thought I would win my second gold. Lin Dan has always been my idol. When he won his second Olympic gold, I was watching on television and told myself that if I could even win one Olympic gold some day, I’d be thrilled,” said Axelsen.
“But I never imagined winning two Olympic gold medals. I’m incredibly happy. I want to savour this moment.
“I have immense respect for Lin Dan. I remember watching him win his second Olympic gold and thinking, ‘That’s impossible.’ I know how tough and competitive men’s singles is. I understand how physically and mentally demanding it is, and how many players are eager to win. Everything has to align perfectly.
“But when I started taking the lead in the second game against Kunavlut, I thought: ‘This is possible’. Knowing that he (Lin Dan) had done it before, gave me confidence,” added Axelsen.
“For me he is the GOAT and I’m just very happy and proud to be, in Olympic terms, on the same level,” Axlesen said of Lin Dan, who was also present in the arena. “But in my eyes, he stands as the best ever.”
Axelsen’s win was even more impressive as he had gone through a tough year where he struggled to reproduce his best form.
The 30-year-old’s sole title victory this year was in the Malaysian Masters in May and he lost his world No. 1 spot to China’s Shi Yuqi just before the Olympics. But he came good on the biggest stage.
In terms of achievements, Axelsen can add his two Olympic golds to two world titles but is still behind Lin Dan, who captured five world crowns.
On whether he will try to surpass the Chinese in the Olympics and try win a third gold in the next Games in 2028 in Los Angeles, Axelsen said: “If in three years I still have the drive and achieve good results in major competitions, I might compete in the Olympics in the United States.”
Despite the defeat, Kunlavut created history by becoming the first Thai shuttler to win a medal in the Olympics.
