Meet Denmark's Mandarin-speaking badminton hero

WATCH: Ken Browne catches up with the reigning Olympic champion in Copenhagen

He's the reigning Olympic champion in a sport dominated by Asia and he speaks Mandarin. Viktor Axelsen is Denmark's badminton legend going for gold in Paris.

It's 8am at the Brøndy stadium in Copenhagen and the Danish badminton team is already on court. Unlocked doors and we walk straight into the stadium. Not a security guard in sight. This is normal down-to-earth Denmark.  

Inside badminton hall-of-famers keep a close eye on the current team training. Flemming Delfs is there - winner of the first ever World Championships held in Malmö, Sweden in 1977 just a short drive over the Øresund Bridge.

Peter Rasmussen is here too - 1997 world champion. The Danes are the only country to break up the Asian dominance of the World medals.

Another player having already secured his place among the greats is on court. Viktor Axelsen is a two-time world champion and reigning Olympic champion, following his bronze in Brazil in 2016.

He is the only non-Asian man to win badminton gold at the Olympics. His glory in Tokyo in 2021 was clearly emotional.

"It was like the feeling of everything; feeling all the hard work and all the sacrifices were worth it," the 30-year-old told CGTN. "It was the biggest moment in my career for sure."

Denmark has managed to carve a niche in the world of badminton. Many in the West don't grasp the sport's popularity and realise how passionate the fans are.

"It's like football here in Europe," Axelsen said. "The fan base is huge. So many people watching when you go to the stadium and their favorite players are playing. It's a big party."

Audiences for Olympic badminton matches can reach a billion people with Axelsen saying China and Indonesia are his favorite places to play.

Fluent in Mandarin

China and Axelsen have a long-term relationship.  When he won bronze at Rio 2016, he defeated Lin Dan and to win gold in Tokyo he had to overcome challenger Chen Long.

"China and Chinese badminton has meant a lot to my career," Axelsen added. "I've looked at their players to improve. I very much respect their work ethic, the way they play, they're very strong mentally and physically. So I've got a lot of motivation.

"It's also why I chose to learn Mandarin, to understand how the culture is, how the Chinese team is doing things. Also, the country. I really respect the way they have been able to grow as a country and how hard they work. So I have huge respect for how they do things, especially on the court."

READ MORE

Solar cars and tyre dust: Auto's future at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Mackerel getting Norwegian fishermen out of deep water

The UK village that inspired the Olympic Games

So which Chinese player has had the biggest impact on him?

"Bao Chunlai definitely inspired me," Axelsen said. "Lin Dan of course, and Chen Jin and the other players, Chen Long. But Bao Chunlai was also a tall player like me, so I found a lot of motivation from his playing style and the way he moved on court."

Axelsen's following on Chinese social media platforms like Douyin and TikTok is into the millions and he revels in his role as a badminton ambassador.

"I want to be able to promote the sport in the best possible way," he said. "When you have a huge platform, it's a big privilege. You're able to promote the sport in your own way and have your own voice and to me, that's something which I don't take lightly."

Axelsen has also embraced fatherhood with two young daughters Vega and Aya. So how does he balance life as a dad and professional athlete?

"You can't be in two places at one time," he said. "You definitely miss out on some things, but I have a wonderful wife who takes a lot of responsibility when it comes to the children. It's teamwork.

"It's tough but you do your best. Every time I'm home, I try to be fully there. When I'm on court, I'm fully there."

So can he retain his Olympic badminton title - and is retirement on the cards after Paris?

"I don't want to say I'm not going to play in Los Angeles in 2028," he said. "I'm focusing on this Olympics. I'm aiming for gold, but the competition is so fierce.

"Shi Yuqi from China has been doing really well so he's probably the favorite. There are many players I believe can do well at the Olympics; myself included.

"You have to be fully focused from the first match and that's my plan - to play my heart out and then we'll see what happens. I've won everything I dreamed of winning. Everything from now on for me is just a bonus.

"I'm still as hungry as I was before and to have won everything and achieved all this - it's not a superpower, but it gives me a lot of confidence. It gives me a lot of peace and that makes me dangerous for the other players because I'm quite relaxed about everything!"

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday