Chen Long clinched gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, ending Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei’s eight-year gold and silver streak, respectively, at the Games. Previous to Chen, the badminton men’s singles event had not seen a new Olympic champion in 12 years.
Chen, a Chinese badminton player, knocked Lee out of the running permanently, earning him the top spot at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Chen triumphed after an arduous match with his decorated rival that lasted over an hour, proving his incredible level of fitness. Nevertheless, Lee came away with a third consecutive silver medal from the most essential sporting event ever.
From the 2012 London Olympics, where he bagged a bronze medal, to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Chen’s career has spanned more than a decade. He walked away with one gold medal, one silver medal, and a total of 15 super-series titles, including the prestigious All England Open.
On the sidelines of the Sudirman Cup, the Chinese Badminton Association organised a farewell event, where Chen retired officially. With a staggering two World Championships and one Asian Championships gold, Chen leaves behind a massive legacy that includes 15 Super Series titles and participation in China’s five Sudirman Cup wins, three Thomas Cup wins, and two Asian Games team wins.
Despite holding the top spot on the BWF rankings for 76 consecutive weeks, Chen spent his entire career playing against his famous compatriot, Lin Dan, and his rival, Lee Chong Wei. They overshadowed his career, but he still had an impressive record of 446 victories. Chen was a fantastic competitor, and he possessed an exclusive set of skills. His playstyle featured a resolute defence, elongated rallies, speedy footwork, excellent anticipation, remarkable court coverage, and the ability to dominate the game’s flow.
Chen’s three epic matches with Lin and Lee will last in the memory of badminton enthusiasts forever. Chen was labelled the Great Wall of China by Lin Dan after failing to defeat Chen for most of his career, while Viktor Axelsen ended Chen’s Olympic title defence in 2021. In general, Chen remained uncelebrated as his career coincided with the Lin-Lee rivalry and Axelsen’s growth. Chen has always been one of the game’s understated players, and he will undoubtedly be regarded as one of the greatest players in badminton history if his career had not involved Lin and Lee.
