Malaysian badminton legend who held World No.1 for 349 weeks and won 3 Olympic silver medals, considered one of the greatest players of all time
Born on October 21, 1982, in Baling, Kedah, Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei emerged from humble beginnings to become one of badminton's greatest players. His father worked as a rubber tapper while his mother sold noodles at a local coffee shop. Lee began playing badminton at age eight and showed exceptional promise, eventually moving to Kuala Lumpur to train at the Bukit Jalil Sports School. Lee's professional career began in the early 2000s, but he reached his peak during the 2008-2016 period when he dominated world badminton. He first achieved the world number one ranking in August 2008 and would go on to hold this position for a record 349 weeks across multiple periods. His rivalry with China's Lin Dan became legendary, producing some of the sport's most memorable matches. Lee won numerous prestigious titles including the All England Open three times (2010, 2011, 2014) and claimed victory at the BWF World Championships twice as runner-up. Despite his dominance, Olympic gold remained elusive. Lee earned three consecutive Olympic silver medals, losing heart-breaking finals to Lin Dan in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, then to Chen Long in Rio 2016. His career faced significant turbulence in 2014 when he tested positive for dexamethasone, resulting in an eight-month suspension that was later reduced after appeals demonstrated the substance was taken inadvertently through over-the-counter medication. Lee's impact transcended statistics, transforming badminton from a recreational activity into Malaysia's most followed sport. His matches regularly drew television audiences exceeding 10 million viewers nationwide. After being diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer, he announced his retirement in June 2019. Lee's dedication and sportsmanship earned him Malaysia's highest civilian honor, and he remains the country's most celebrated athlete, inspiring countless young Malaysians to pursue badminton excellence.
World No.1 for 349 weeks, 3x Olympic silver medalist
How They Played
Aggressive attacking player with exceptional speed and court coverage
Lasting Impact
Malaysia's greatest badminton player and global icon
Career Honours
- Olympic Silver 3x (2008,2012,2016)
- World Championships finalist 3x
- World No.1 349 weeks