The oldest Olympic badminton champion in history — won consecutive Olympic gold medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 at the age of 34, the oldest gold medallist in badminton history, combining extraordinary consistency with an impeccable technique.
Zhang Ning was born in Jilin, China in 1975. She won consecutive Olympic gold medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 — the latter at the age of 34, making her the oldest Olympic badminton champion in history. She won the World Championship in 2006. She reached World No.1 and sustained elite-level performance deep into her 30s, an exceptional achievement in a physically demanding sport. Her baseline consistency, accuracy and ability to manage pace and tempo made her one of the most technically refined players of her era. She remains the oldest individual Olympic badminton gold medallist in history.
Olympic Gold 2004, 2008
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 2004, 2008
- World Champion 2006
- BWF World No.1