Life of a legend

1988

Aged just 5, Lin Dan receives his first badminton lessons in his home city of Longyan, Fujian province.

1995

A 12-year-old Lin is crowned national youth champion.

2000

Lin is promoted to the senior Chinese national squad.

2002

Lin reaches No 1 in the world rankings for the first time in August of that year, staying on top for a week.

2003

Lin makes his world championships debut in Birmingham, England, where he loses to compatriot Xia Xuanze at the quarterfinal stage.

2004

Lin suffers the first major setback of his career, crashing out of the Athens Olympics in the first round in his Games debut. That shock exit had followed a series of standout performances that year, including winning his first All England Open title and helping China claim the Thomas Cup men's team event.

2005

Lin leads China to regain the Sudirman Cup after South Korea had won the mixed team championship in 2003.

2006

Lin wins the first of his five singles world championship titles in Madrid, but loses to Indonesian legend Taufik Hidayat in the Doha Asian Games final.

2008

Lin wins his first Olympic gold medal in Beijing. That unforgettable triumph in front of his home fans came just months after the famously hot-headed Lin's temper boiled over in a scuffle with South Korea's head coach Li Mao, a former Chinese national player, over officiating calls during a super series event.

2010

Lin claims his maiden Asian Cup singles title in Guangzhou, thus becoming the first person to achieve badminton's 'Super Grand Slam' (a complete collection of the sport's Asian and major international trophies). Later that year, he marries China's former women's world badminton champion Xie Xingfang.

2012

Lin beats arch-rival Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia to retain his Olympic title in London to become the first－and still the only－shuttler, male or female, to do so.

2013

Lin wins the last of his world championship titles in Guangzhou. Images of Lin kissing his wife, a guest commentator at the event, as they celebrate his victory go viral online.

2015

Lin causes controversy after he opts out of the national team's collective contract with domestic sportswear brand Li Ning to sign an individual endorsement deal with Japanese company Yonex, reportedly worth of $14 million.

2016

Lin loses to Lee in the semifinals of the Rio Olympics, heralding the start of a career decline. He later shocks the nation after admitting to having an affair while his wife Xie was pregnant following the publication of photos showing him dating an unidentified woman.

2018

Lin beats Lee, 21-16, 21-17, in their 40th and final encounter to reach the semifinals of the 2018 All England Open in Birmingham.

2019

Lin wins the last of his 66th career singles titles at the Malaysia Open.