Lee Chong Wei is considered one of the greatest badminton players of all time. Born on October 21, 1982 in Bagan Serai, Perak, Malaysia, Lee took his first steps into the sport and on his path to glory in his childhood, with a first love for basketball. However, the little athlete had to give up at the request of his mother, who did not want him to be exposed to the scorching heat of the outdoor courts. Later, it was his father who, upon discovering his passion for badminton, took him to the local gym, where a coach, Teh Peng Huat, saw his talent and began training him after school.
The beginnings of a star
Thus, after years of training and dedication to the sport, in 2000 Lee’s career as a professional player finally took off. The event was made possible when he was recruited by Misbun Sidek to join the Malaysian national team.
Although the first few years were not easy, in 2003 he managed to reach his first major final at the Malaysia Open, where he lost to Chen Hong of China. After this, he enjoyed several successes, such as his victory at the Malaysia Open and Taiwan Open in 2004.
However, his image as a badminton legend began to be forged when he participated in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where he reached the quarterfinals, demonstrating his ability to compete at the world level.
Another of the most important moments for his career was the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, at which time he became the first Malaysian to reach the men’s badminton final. Although he narrowly lost in a thrilling match against Chinese champion Lin Dan, this achievement earned him the honorary title of “Datuk” in recognition of his importance and influence in national sport.
He later achieved another all-time record by staying at number one in the world for 349 weeks, with a streak of 199 consecutive weeks between 2008 and 2012.
Lee’s Olympic career: The story behind her three silver medals
In addition to accumulating numerous titles in international tournaments, Lee also made history in the Olympic Games. In 2012, in London, he repeated his duel with Lin Dan in the final, where he again won the silver medal after another closely contested match.
In 2016, during the Rio Olympics, the Malaysian athlete fell again to Lin Dan in the semifinals, winning his third Olympic silver medal and becoming Malaysia’s most successful Olympian to date.
Despite his triumphs, he faced some significant challenges during his career. In 2014, a scandal shook his image when he failed a doping test during the World Championships. He was sanctioned with an eight-month suspension and although it was proven that there was no intention to cheat, he lost his silver medal in those championships.
In 2015 he returned to the circuit with renewed impetus and managed to win titles such as the United States Open and the Canadian Open. Furthermore, he made history once again by becoming the first player to win all badminton title series.
Lee Chong Wei announced his retirement in 2019 after battling a nose cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, this disease and treatment affected his physical ability, preventing him from competing at the highest level.
Despite his retirement, his impact on the sport has not disappeared at all. In May 2023 he was inducted into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame.
