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Top 10 Male Badminton Players of All Time

Badminton is a two-player or four-player sport, which is hugely popular all over the world. It is a played using racquets and a feathered shuttlecock. It was included to become a part of the Olympic Games since the year 1992. It has 5 events, i.e. the singles of men and women, the doubles of men and women, and the mixed doubles. While it is essentially an indoor sport when it comes to competitions, because of the fact that wind affects the direction and speed of the feathered shuttlecock, it is often played as an outdoor sport as well, though only in case of recreational activity. Badminton players are extremely popular, owing to the rigor and skill they display. Let us take a look at the Top 10 Male Badminton Players of All Time.

Top 10 Male Badminton Players of All Time

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1. Lin Dan

Chinese professional badminton player Lin Dan was born on October 14, 1983 in Longyan, Fujian, and was nicknamed “Super Dan” by Peter Gade. He won the Olympic event twice, world championship five times and All England championship five times, and is regarded by many as the greatest singles badminton player of all time. Lin Dan achieved nine major titles in the badminton world and completed the “Super Grand Slam” by the age of just 28. He is also the first and the only player to achieve such feat. Lin Dan first achieved the Olympic gold in 2008 and defended the title again in 2012, and became the only player till date to achieve so. He achieved the Eddie Choong Player of the Year award twice in 2006 and 2007. He became the BWF Best Male Player of the Year in 2008 and voted the Most Valuable Player at the 2010 Asian Games in China.

2. Taufik Hidayat

Retired Indonesian professional badminton player Taufik Hidayat was born on 10 August 1981 in Bandung, West Java, and was widely known in media for his perceived rivalry with Chinese player Lin Dan. Hidayat and Lin Dan were often referred as the “arch rivals“. He achieved the Indonesian Open six times from 1999 to 2006. He also achieved the men’s singles event in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics and achieved the men’s singles competition at the IBF World Championships in August 2005. Hidayat achieved the gold medal at the Asian Games twice in 2002 and 2006. He started training in badminton under Iie Sumirat at the SGS Club, Bandung, when he was young and later achieved the top places in the badminton world. Hidayat recently established a badminton training center called Taufik Hidayat Arena in Ciracas, East Jakarta, in November 2012.

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3. Lee Chong Wei

Malaysian Chinese professional badminton player Dato’ Lee Chong Wei was born on 21 October 1982 in Bagan Serai, Perak, and is the sixth Malaysian to win an Olympic medal. He achieved the silver medal in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and became the first Malaysian to reach the finals in the men’s singles event of the badminton at the Olympiad. Lee Chong Wei was described by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as a national hero, and has earned the title Dato’ for his contribution in the Malaysian sports. Lee Chong Wei held the World Number 1 spot for 199 consecutive weeks from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012. He is the only Malaysian badminton player to hold the top position in the world ranking more than a year. His autobiography “Dare to be a Champion” was officially published on 18 January 2012.

4. Tony Gunawan

Chinese descended Indonesian born professional badminton player Tony Gunawan was born on 9 April 1975, and participated in badminton championships internationally for Indonesia and later for the United States. He is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest doubles players in the history of badminton. Tony Gunawan achieved numerous international titles during his representation of Indonesia from 1992 to 2001, and later coached and played for the United States since 2001. Tony Gunawan achieved the 2000 Olympic gold medal, the 2001 World Championships and the 2005 World Championships with three different men’s doubles partners. He with his partner Halim Haryanto also achieved the 2001 All-England Open besides winning the IBF World Championships in 2001.

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5. Rudy Hartono

Former Indonesian professional badminton player Rudy Hartono Kurniawan was born on August 18, 1949, and is widely regarded by many as the most famous players in the history of badminton besides being known as one of the greatest badminton players of all time. He achieved the prestigious All-England Championship consecutive seven times from 1968 to 1974. He achieved the World Championship on his only attempt of the title in 1980. Rudy Hartono is the brother of international female badminton player Utami Dewi Kinard. He led the Indonesian Thomas Cup team six times consecutively between 1967 and 1982. Hartono also helped Indonesia to win four consecutive world team championships from 1970 to 1979. He was inducted in the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1997.

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6. Liem Swie King

Former Indonesian professional badminton player Liem Swie King was born on 28 February 1956 in Kudus, and is regarded by many as one of the world’s leading singles Badminton players in 1980s. He is one of the most dominant forces from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. He is also known for the ferocity of his jumping smash and also for his amazing skills as a men’s doubles badminton player. He won the Central Java badminton championship at the age of just 15. King participated in First Djakarta Badminton Open Tournament in November 1972 and achieved the Central Java Governor Championship “Moenadi Cup” three years later. His life and worldwide achievement inspired an Indonesian movie to be made titled “King”. Liem Swie King was inducted in the Badminton Hall of Fame in 2002.

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7. Morten Frost Hansen

Former Danish professional badminton player Morten Frost Hansen was born on April 4, 1958, and was nicknamed “Mr Badminton” for his huge contribution to the world of Badminton. He held his position in the top three of the world rankings for twelve years when he represented Denmark in international badminton championships. He achieved the silver medal in the World Badminton Championships twice in 1985 and 1987. Hansen during his defeat in the second World Championship he participated made the headline “The World’s greatest badminton player may never be World Champion.” He achieved the All England Open Badminton Championships four times and won the European championship twice. Hansen achieved the Nordic championship each year from 1978 to 1984 and again in 1988. Hansen was inducted in the BWF Hall of Fame in 1998.

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8. Peter Høeg Gade

Retired Danish professional badminton player Peter Høeg Gade was born on December 14, 1976, in Aalborg, Denmark, and currently resides in Holte in Copenhagen. He is the husband of the former international handball player Camilla Høeg. He achieved European Championships in the men’s singles event consecutive five times and achieved All England Open Badminton Championships singles title in 1999. He held the top spot in the World Rankings from 1998 to 2001, and achieved 22 Grand-Prix titles during that time. Gade briefly recaptured the number one spot again on June 22, 2006. He achieved the Danish National Championship 10 times in his active career. He was named IBF World Badminton Player of the year in 1998, and achieved the Special Award of the DBF in 2006.

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9. Chen Long

Chinese professional badminton player Chen Long was born on January 18, 1989 in Shashi District, Jingzhou, Hubei, and was a part of the gold winning Chinese team at the 2010 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He achieved both the boys’ singles and team event in the 2007 BWF World Junior Championships. Chen Long also won the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in 2007. He first achieved his professional individual title in 2010 at the Bitburger Open in Germany where de defeated Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the final of the GP Gold event. He defeated Lee Chong Wei and won the 2013 All England Open finals. Chen Long recently defeated Lee Chong Wei again in the final of the World Championship at Copenhagen on August 31, 2014.

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10. Eddy Choong

Legendary former Malaysian badminton player Choong Ewe Beng was there with us from his birth on 29 May 1930, till he died on 28 January 2013. He also played men’s doubles with his brother David Choong besides his active career as a single player. He is widely regarded for his quickness, tenacity and stamina. Choong achieved the All England Open Badminton Championships four times and also won the men’s doubles event in 1951, 1952 and 1953 with his brother. He was a pioneer member of the 1955 Malayan Thomas Cup team. For his huge contribution to the badminton world, the Badminton World Federation bestows a special honor named Eddy Choong Player of the Year. Eddy Choong was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Badminton players are among the most popular and respected of indoor sportsmen in the world. This is because, they have to put in an enormous amount of practice, in order to ensure that they develop the right kind of skill set, as well as fitness and focus to play the sport. Badminton players are among the winningest athletes in the major tournaments, including the Olympics.

Top 10 Male Gymnasts of All Time

Gymnastics is a sport in which the athletes perform exercises of various forms. To become good at this sport, gymnasts need to acquire great deal of physical strength, flexibility, agility, balance and control, and at the same time, they also need to have coordination and grace to make the performances aesthetically pleasing to the audience. Gymnastics is internationally popular, and every country has its own national team, and its national governing body. There are various events in gymnastics. Of them, the men’s events are floor exercise, vault, parallel bars, high bar, pommel horse and still rings. Let us take a look at the Top 10 Male Gymnasts of All Time.

note: you may want to read our list about All Time Best Female Gymnasts.

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Top 10 Male Gymnasts of All Time

10. Takashi Ono

Legendary former Japanese artistic gymnast Takashi Ono was born on July 26, 1931 in Noshiro, Akita, Japan, and is a dominating force in the discipline of Men’s artistic gymnastics during 1950s and 1960s. He participated in four consecutive Summer Olympics in 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1964, and took the Olympic Oath in 1964 in Tokyo. Takashi Ono led the Japanese gymnastic team to win the Gold Medal at the 1964 Olympic Games. He also achieved the title of World Championship an astounding 20 times in his active gymnastic career. He was inducted in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1998. Takashi Ono, aged 83, now resides in Japan with his wife Kiyoko Ono and their two children.

9. Akinori Nakayama

Legendary former Japanese artistic gymnast Akinori Nakayama was born on March 1, 1943, and is one of the only two gymnasts besides Albert Azaryan to win the rings event twice in Olympic. He achieved a total of six medals which include three gold medals in the team all-around, the floor exercise and the horizontal bar at the World Championships in 1966. Nakayama became the most successful male athlete at the 1968 Summer Olympics with four gold medals, a silver medal and one bronze medal. He then achieved another four world titles in 1970 and again won four more medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He served as the vice-president of the Japanese Gymnastics Federation after his retirement from the professional gymnastic. Nakayama was inducted in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2005.

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8. Alexander Dityatin

Former Russian artistic gymnast Aleksandr Nikolaevich Dityatin was born on August 7, 1957 in Leningrad, and is noted for setting the record for achieving the most medals of any type at a single Olympic Games while winning eight medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. He is a three-time Olympic Champion and was honored as the Master of Sports of the USSR. Dityatin achieved his first Olympic success while winning two silver medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He is also the first male gymnast to score a perfect 10 in an Olympic which he accomplished in the long horse vault event. Dityatin also competed for the Leningrad Dinamo sports society besides his international appearance. He was inducted in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2004.

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7. Viktor Chukarin

Legendary former Russian artistic gymnast Viktor Ivanovich Chukarin was there with us from his birth on November 9, 1921 till he died on August 25, 1984, and is widely considered as the first of the great Soviet gymnasts. Chukarin was the most successful athlete at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He then achieved 5 medals at the age of 35 at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He became the All-around World Champion in 1954 and achieved eleven medals including seven gold medals at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. Chukarin was named as the USSR’s gymnastic individual all-around champion thrice consecutively from 1949 to 1951 and again achieved the same in 1953 and 1955. He led the USSR team to the victory at the 1954 World Championships. He was awarded the first ever Order of Lenin given to an athlete in 1957.

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6. Boris Shakhlin

Legendary former Russian artistic gymnast Boris Anfiyanovich Shakhlin was there with us from his birth on 27 January 1932 till he died on 30 May 2008. He is the 1958 all-around World Champion and 1960 all-around Olympic champion. Shakhlin was the most successful athlete at the 1960 Summer Olympics and won a total of 13 medals which include seven gold medals at the Summer Olympics. He also won a total of 14 medals at the World Championships. Shakhlin is noted for winning gold medals at three successive Olympic Games. He also set a career record of 10 individual titles in the world championships. He received the Red Banner of Labor in 1956 and the Order of Lenin in 1960. Boris Shakhlin retired from international competition after suffering a heart attack at the age of just 35.

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5. Nikolai Andrianov

Legendary former Russian artistic gymnast Nikolai Yefimovich Andrianov was there with us from his birth on 14 October 1952 till he died on 21 March 2011. He achieved a total of 15 Olympic medals including 7 gold medals, 5 silver medals and 3 bronze medals and held the record for most Olympic medals until he was surpassed by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Andrianov still holds the men’s record for most individual Olympic medals in gymnastics. He became the most successful athlete at the 1976 Summer Olympics while winning six individual medals and one team medal. He coached the Japan Olympic gymnastics team from 1994 to 2002. Andrianov was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2001. He developed degenerative neurological disorder multiple system atrophy during his final years and died at the age of 58 on 21 March 2011.

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4. Sawao Kato

Retired Japanese artistic gymnast Sawao Kato was born on October 11, 1946, and is one of the most successful athletes of all time in Olympiad. He achieved a total of twelve medals which include eight gold medals in three Olympics he participated. Kato is one of the only ten athletes to win eight or more Olympic gold medals. He made his international debut as a member of the Japanese team at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics where the team dominated in all events. He was involved in a controversy in the men’s team competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Sawao Kato currently works as a professor at the University of Tsukuba after his retirement from the gymnastic world. He was inducted in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2001.

3. Alexei Nemov

Former Russian artistic gymnast Alexei Yurievich Nemov was born on 28 May 1976 in Barashevo, Mordovia, and is one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time. He achieved a total of 12 Olympic medals in his active gymnastic career. Nemov made his international debut at the 1993 World Championships when he was just 16-year old. He then won two gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Nemov achieved the gold medal in Vault in 1995 and 1996, achieved the gold in Floor in 1997, and achieved the title in both the Floor and Pommel Horse event at the 1999 World Championships. The Russian Olympic Committee as the recognition of his class and character awarded him $40,000. Nemov currently resides in his hometown of Tolyatti.

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2. Vitaly Scherbo

Former Belarusian artistic gymnast Vitaly Venediktovich Scherbo was born on 13 January 1972 in Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, and is one of the most successful gymnasts of all time. He is the only male gymnast ever to achieve world titles in all 8 events. Scherbo won six out of the eight awarded gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and created one of the most dominant gymnastic performances in history. He started practicing gymnastics at age 7 under his mother. Scherbo made his international debut as a member of the USSR team at the World Championship and the World Cup in 1990. He then achieved the 1993 World All-Around title and the American Cup twice consecutively in 1993 and 1994. Scherbo currently owns and runs his own gymnasium in Las Vegas.

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1. Kōhei Uchimura

Japanese artistic gymnast Kōhei Uchimura was born on January 3, 1989 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, and is regarded by many as the greatest gymnast of all time. He is a 16-time World medalist at several events including all-around, team, floor, high bar and parallel bars. He achieved five Olympic medals in the all-around, team and floor exercise event. Uchimura was praised as the “combination of tremendous difficulty, supreme consistency and extraordinary elegance of performance” by the International Gymnast Magazine. Uchimura is the first gymnast ever to win every major all-around title in a single Olympic cycle. He is also the 2012 Olympic All-Around Champion and achieved the World all-around titles consecutive five times from 2009 to 2014. Uchimura was featured as the older version of “Dekisugi” in the Toyota’s 2012 ReBorn ad campaign.

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These gymnasts show incredible physical flexibility, which is what attracts the audience and keeps them glued to the shows. These gymnasts are capable of capturing the attention of the audience whose sense of awe is maintained, as beautiful performances, filled with grace and elegance, are displayed by the most charming men in the world of sports.