Reflecting on a great year in badminton, 2024 has had many unforgettable moments, both with tough challenges and remarkable milestones to inspire the whole badminton world.
While it's impossible to cover every single event, we'll touch on some of the most significant ones – starting, of course, with a summer that brought the sports community together in Paris for an Olympic show.
Paris Olympics: the biggest sport event, on European soil
Before the biggest sports event unfolded, a special mention goes to Carolina Marin who clinched the title at the All England for the second time, nine years after her first victory, marking her as the only European to clinch a title at this historic event in this year’s edition.
The Paris Olympics brought the biggest celebration of sports to Europe. In badminton, we had moments of both triumph and heartbreak.
Viktor Axelsen clinched his second Olympic gold and while only one medal was secured, many of the European players competing in Paris showed great performances, reaching beyond the group stages – such as Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, Maiken Fruergaard/ Sara Thygesen, the Stoeva sisters, Toma Junior Popov, and Anders Antonsen.
The French players got to experience something so special, playing in front of the home crowd in the Olympics – a once in a lifetime experience.
However, the event was not without its lows; Carolina Marin's journey was abruptly halted due to an injury during a promising semifinal match against He Bing Jiao, a heartbreaking moment for the seven-time European champion and Rio 2016 gold medallist. Despite this setback, Marin's already fighting to get back on court.
End of an era and new beginnings
Viktor Axelsen's impressive 132-week reign as world number one came to an end in June, marking a significant phase in his career. Still, Axelsen continues to inspire. In a year of transitions, Anders Antonsen made headlines by winning consecutive titles under the guidance of his new coach, his brother Kasper.
Alex Lanier's rise from junior circuits to World Tour success has been meteoric. His victory at the Super 750 DAIHATSU Japan Open and the subsequent Eddy Choong Rising Star Award highlight his breakthrough season.
The badminton world also bid farewell to iconic European duos such as Robin Tabeling/Selena Piek, Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen, and Marcus Ellis/Lauren Smith, the latter retiring as they’re about to welcome their first child – huge congratulations! While these partnerships concluded, the players continue to fight on the courts in new pairings and roles.
We wrapped up 2024 with the World Tour Finals, where Anders Antonsen finished as runner-up, and Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen not only won the title but also ascended to the world number one spot.
The European badminton scene continues to thrive with both new and experienced figures. We can gladly say that our European athletes have given us an amazing year to look back on!