Meet: Lin Dan
Sport Badminton
Age 28
Country China
So, what’s all the fuss about?
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Known as “Super Dan”, he has won everything worth winning, is one half of a Chinese sporting power couple (he is married to Xie Xingfang, the former world No 1) and is reputed to be the bad boy of badminton after he punched his coach.
Nearing the end of his career, he appears to be mellowing. He swapped shirts with Lee Chong Wei, his great rival from Malaysia, when he won his fifth All England Open Championship title in Birmingham last week. He usually marks his victories with a military salute to the four sides of the arena.
Will he deliver in London?
Lee, the world No 1, was forced to retire because of a shoulder injury in that final and was beaten by Lin in the final of the World Championship at Wembley Arena in August, Lin winning the event for the fourth time.
Where can we catch him in action?
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The Asia Championships from April 17 to 22 and the India Open from April 24 to 29 are the next big events before Olympic qualification ends.
And at the Games?
Lin is set to return to Wembley Arena from July 28 and will look to win his second gold medal in the men’s singles final on August 5.
Who is his main threat?
Lee, if he is fit, and Chen Long, Lin’s compatriot. Rajiv Ouseph, the Briton ranked No 27 in the world, is an outside threat.
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Words by Alex Ralph
In the frame
The anguish is clear on Ian Thorpe’s face as his plans for London 2012 screech to a halt yesterday with a twelfth-place finish in the semi-finals of the 200 metres freestyle at Australia’s Olympic trials in Adelaide
Quote
‘For those still competing, a single slammed door at 1am the night before their event could have an impact’ — Jonathan Edwards, opening the Olympic Village’s living quarters
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Update
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
A new £46.5 million training centre that is to be used by Great Britain’s divers, opens to the public this weekend. The Plymouth Life Centre will be unveiled by Jo Jackson, the 400 metres freestyle bronze medal-winner in Beijing, and Fran Leighton, the Britain water polo captain, among others. The 50-metre, ten-lane competition pool has four diving boards, a video playback facility and bubble technology to reduce the “slapback” on divers hitting the water.
TUNNEL VISION
Tube passengers on platforms at 80 underground stations will have access to free WiFi during the Olympic Games. The wireless coverage, provided by Virgin Media, will not be available on the trains, though, because it was too expensive to install.
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WHEELS ON FIRE
Members of Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby squad will compete in the Coloplast Super Series league at Medway Sports Park in Gillingham this weekend for their local teams. Founded in Canada in 1977, the sport is a combination of ice hockey, handball and rugby and was originally called Murderball. Each team have four players with eight rolling substitutes and points are scored by crossing the opponents’ goalline with two wheels in contact with the hardwood floor and the ball in hand.
Words by Alex Ralph
The week ahead
Athletics
Tomorrow: 80 Cinque Mulini Cross-Country, San Vittore Olona, Italy.
Cycling
Today-tomorrow: UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Today: Milan-San Remo, Italy.
Diving
Fina World Series, Dubai.
Hockey
Today-March 25: Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Beerschot, Belgium.
Modern pentathlon
Today-tomorrow: World Cup Series, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sailing
Today-March 24: Finn European Championships, Scarlino, Italy.
Swimming
Today-March 22: Australia Championships, Adelaide