Danish badminton legend Viktor Axelsen, a two-time Olympic and world champion, announced his retirement on Wednesday, stating that his body has ordered him to "stop" due to injuries. Due to a back issue that required surgery and put him in constant discomfort, the 32-year-old has not competed since October of last year. "As most people are aware, I have been having back problems for a while. Axelsen, a three-time European champion, told "Badminton Europe," "I experienced a setback in October after having surgery in April last year and going through a rigorous rehabilitation procedure.
"I haven't been able to train or play at the necessary level since those competitions.Axelsen, who maintained the top spot in the world rankings for 183 weeks—the third-longest streak ever—said that he eventually had to pay attention to his body since the discomfort would not go away and his physicians would have to do another surgery if he persisted.
The gregarious Dane, who has battled asthma throughout his career, won gold at the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris and placed first in the World Championships in 2017 and 2022. Additionally, he participated in six Danish teams that won gold at the European Championships.The doctors I've been working with and the surgeon who operated on me last year have been consulted in making this decision," he stated."They say that with the pain I am experiencing now, it could potentially require another surgery, and if that does not go well, even a more serious procedure might be necessary."Either way, it would indicate that I couldn't compete at the necessary level. The renowned shuttler, whose most recent competitive event was the Denmark Open in October 2025, continued, "It's just my body telling me to stop, and I have to follow the advice of my doctors."
Axelsen claimed he will look back on his career with joy despite the difficult circumstances surrounding his retirement."Making this choice has been very challenging and has occasionally seemed unfair. In addition, my body has performed admirably throughout the years, and I consider it a great honour to have been able to practice, play, and win so many important competitions at the top level."I look back on my career with joy because very few people get to experience what I have and meet so many amazing people," he remarked.