The incumbent BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer capped a superlative particular person marketing campaign in 1996 by profitable the lads’s singles gold medal in Atlanta.
It’s been 25 years since and the Helsinge-born stays the one non-Asian man to have stood atop the badminton podium on the Summer time Video games.
By Bikash Mohapatra. Pictures: Badmintonphoto
Linford Christie was an ideal instance for Poul-Erik Høyer. The Jamaica-born athlete is now generally known as the one British man to have received gold medals within the quartet of main competitions: the Olympics, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Video games.
That mentioned, it is usually a reality that the majority of Christie’s main successes occurred within the fourth decade of his life, that’s, after he had turned 30. For somebody who started enjoying skilled badminton as early because the mid-Eighties, success to Høyer got here somewhat late in his profession, nearly 10 years late.
The Dane was rounding up the third decade of his life cycle in 1995 when he received his first All England title, in addition to his first medal (a bronze) on the World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. When the age issue was identified forward of that yr’s IBF World Grand Prix Finals in Singapore, the place he was one of many oldest gamers within the subject, Høyer admitted his enchancment as a participant “has been gradual” however on the similar time exuded confidence forward of the 1996 season.
“I’m aiming for the Olympic title. Have a look at (Barcelona Olympics gold medallist) Linford Cristie – he’s nonetheless enhancing at 35 years outdated,” the Dane instructed the media. It was not that Høyer was being hopelessly hopeful. Quite the opposite, he was lifelike and prepared to stroll the stroll. It was a few months earlier than outcomes began to pour in.
A 15-9, 16-17, 15-10 win over Thomas Johansson of Sweden ensured a maiden Swiss Open title. A couple of days later, the Dane defended his All England title in an emphatic method, not dropping a recreation in 5 matches. Høyer’s spectacular title protection included a second spherical win over Indonesia’s Hendrawan (2001 World Champion) within the Spherical of 16, a reasonably straightforward quarter-final win over 1991 All England winner Ardy Wiranata, a semi-final demolition of Asian Champion Park Sung-woo of South Korea and a 15-7, 15-6 mauling of Commonwealth Video games gold medallist Rashid Sidek of Malaysia within the last.
The Høyer juggernaut continued on the 15th European Badminton Championships held at Herning, Denmark. A reasonably simple 15-5, 15-11 win over compatriot and coaching companion Peter Rasmussen ensured the left-hander a 3rd straight continental title.
Moreover, his heroics helped Denmark to their first Thomas Cup last in 17 years. Within the semi-finals of the workforce competitors in Hong Kong, Høyer trailed by a recreation and was 1-13 down within the second towards Dong Jiong of China. The left-hander got here again robust to beat the then world No.2 6-15, 18-17, 15-11, his win inspiring the Danes to a 3-2 upset of China.
Coming into the badminton competitors on the Atlanta Olympics, Høyer was palpably one of many favourites. Seeded second, the primary two matches have been straightforward pickings for the Dane whilst the highest seed, Joko Suprianto of Indonesia crashed out on the quarter-final stage. Høyer’s opponent within the final eight was Alan Budikusuma, the defending champion and a part of a robust Indonesian contingent that had blanked Denmark within the Thomas Cup last that yr.
Surprisingly, it was a no contest, Høyer easing by means of to the semi-finals with a 15-5, 15-6 win. Ready within the final 4 was Hariyanto Arbi, the reigning World Champion. The Indonesian had bought the higher of the Dane en path to his world title in 1995, and had a greater head-to-head file (7-2 at that time). Høyer albeit had bought the higher of Arbi to win his maiden All England title, and that consequence ensured ample confidence of an encore. The second seed received 15-11, 15-6 to arrange a last towards Dong Jiong, the third seed.
A 15-12, 15-10 win within the last not solely ensured Høyer the gold medal but additionally meant that he had sealed the triumph in an emphatic method, not dropping a recreation in 5 matches.
Within the last evaluation 1996 turned out to be essentially the most wonderful yr in Høyer’s illustrious profession. It took time to safe his greatest and most memorable win – the Olympic gold medal.
Nonetheless, when it did occur it ensured the Dane might be remembered as one of many recreation’s all-time greats. Legend has it {that a} superstitious Høyer received all the most important titles of his profession enjoying in his outdated fortunate sneakers, which in response to a number of sources have been from six to 12 years outdated, and have been almost falling aside.
Following a profitable profession on courtroom the Helsinge-born has additionally loved an equally profitable stint off it. At their Annual Common Assembly (AGM) in Could 2013, Høyer was elected because the President of the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Earlier this Could, the 55-year-old was re-elected for a 3rd straight time period. Actually he was re-elected unopposed, signalling continuity on the high of the BWF management. There’s one other side the place the Dane retains continuity and stays unmatched.
Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen received bronze in males’s singles in 1992, the one medal received by a non-Asian on the Barcelona Olympics – the place badminton made its debut as a medal sport. Viktor Axelsen repeated the singles bronze feat on the 2016 Video games in Rio de Janeiro. Nonetheless, standing atop the medal podium within the males’s singles self-discipline just isn’t one thing one other Dane, or for that matter one other non-Asian, has achieved.
It’s been 25 years since that triumph in Atlanta however Høyer stays the one non-Asian man to have received a badminton gold medal on the Summer time Olympics.
