Danish badminton legend Viktor Axelsen, former Olympic and World Champion, announces retirement

Viktor Axelsen, a two-time Olympic and World Champion, announced his retirement from professional badminton at the age of 32 on Wednesday.

In a social media post, the Dane said, “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 first came into the limelight in 2010 when he became the Junior World Champion.

He won back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo (2021) and Paris (2024), in addition to a bronze in Rio de Janeiro (2016). He also clinched two World Championship titles in 2017 and 2022, and triumphed at three straight BWF World Tour Finals between 2021 and 2023.

Axelsen, a three-time European Champion, also led Denmark to its maiden Thomas Cup title in 2016.

He spent a total of 183 weeks as the No. 1 player in the men’s BWF Rankings, the third-longest reign in history, trailing only Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei (398) and China’s Lin Dan (211).

“Since the day I picked up a racket, I knew my dream was to become the best in the world. 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,” said Axelsen, who had been out of action since the French Open in October last year.

“I have accomplished everything I once dreamed of, and more,” he said. “What makes it hardest to say goodbye is not the competition itself, but everything around it. The journey, the daily grind, the people,” added the 6’4” tall Dane.

Published on Apr 15, 2026