Photo: Idontknowwhatisit / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Lin Dan was born on October 14, 1983 in Longyan, People's Republic of China and is credited as a badminton player and Olympic competitor. As of 2026, Lin Dan is 42 years old. Schooling on record includes Huaqiao University. Listed accolades include Olympic gold medal (2008), world champion (2009), Badminton Hall of Fame (2023) and 3 more. The listed height is 178 cm.
My Take
To me, Lin Dan is the closest badminton has ever come to a true emperor. Two Olympic golds, five world titles, six All England crowns, plus Asian Games and World Cup wins, is a resume that borders on absurd. But what hooked me wasn't the trophy count, it was his volcanic intensity, the roar after match point that shattered the cool, machine-like stereotype of Chinese athletes. He played with raw emotion and theatrical command of the court. His 2023 Hall of Fame induction felt overdue rather than surprising. Few competitors in any racket sport have so thoroughly defined an era. Lin Dan simply was the era.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Lin Dan
- Name (Japanese)
- 林丹
- Born
- October 14, 1983 (age 42)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Boar
- Origin
- Longyan, People's Republic of China
- Height
- 178 cm
- Occupation
- badminton player / Olympic competitor
2. Background
- University
- Huaqiao University
Awards & achievements
- 2008 Olympic gold medal
- 2009 world champion
- 2023 Badminton Hall of Fame
- national champion
- Asian champion
- Asian Games champion
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin%20Dan
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9E%97%E4%B8%B9
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1390341
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Lin Dan born?
Born October 14, 1983 (age 42).
Where is Lin Dan from?
Lin Dan is from Longyan, People's Republic of China.
What does Lin Dan do?
Lin Dan works as badminton player, Olympic competitor.
How tall is Lin Dan?
Lin Dan is 178 cm.
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