Axelsen

Viktor Axelsen (Danish: Viktor Axelsen; January 4, 1994 -), also translated as Axelsen, Chinese name Axelsen, is a retired Danish badminton men's singles player. Axelsen is the first World Youth Championship men's singles champion in Danish history; he won the European Championship for the first time in 2016, and was a main member of the Danish team that won the Thomas Cup in 2016. In the same year, he defeated two-time defending champion Lin Dan in the third-place match at the Rio Olympics and won the bronze medal for the first time. In 2017, he won the men's singles championship at the World Badminton Championships, becoming the third Danish player in history to win the world badminton singles championship. He also reached the top of the world rankings for the first time on September 28, 2017. In August 2021, he defeated Chen Long 2-0 in the badminton singles final of the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first non-Chinese player to win the badminton men's singles championship since the 2004 Olympics. In August 2024, he defeated Thai player Kunlavut Witishan 2-0 in the Paris Olympic badminton singles final, becoming the second player after Lin Dan to win the Olympic badminton men's singles championship.