Michelle Li Koon-Yan is one of the best female badminton players in the world today. Known as “The Queen,” Michelle has some pretty impressive characteristics that have made her one of the greatest in the sport. Keep reading to find out more about this amazing athlete.
Life
With a career spanning over a decade, she has overcome many hurdles. From the age of 5, Michelle was on the court practising for hours at a time. Her efforts paid off when she won her first major title in 2006 at the age of 16. Being one of the youngest elite athletes, Michelle found success in badminton and volleyball. But things slowed down for her in 2007 due to serious ankle injuries that threatened her career. She took a break from the sport after breaking two bones in her right ankle. After the surgery, doctors told Michelle that if she wanted to continue her career in badminton, she would need to find another partner because she could not rely on one leg. In 2008, she rebounded from injury to win a slew of tournaments in Canada and internationally. The following year, she went on to win some gold medals while representing Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It was there that Michelle realised how much support she got from her family and fans throughout her journey as an athlete.
Career
Michelle Li is the best badminton player in the world right now. That’s not a throwaway line or my opinion – it’s fact. In 2016, she became the first-ever Canadian to win gold at an Olympic Games in Badminton, defeating four-time gold medalist Carolina Marin of Spain in the final match. She also won silver at the 2012 London Olympics (badminton was dropped from the games after that year). She’s an eight-time Pan Am Games gold medalist and a six-time Canadian Open winner, the winner of 17 professional tournaments and the list goes on and on. Oh, and did I mention she’s still only 30 years old?
Biggest achievements
Michelle Li is one of the most famous badminton players on the globe, winning every Grand Prix title a player can win. She is the only woman in history to be ranked World No. 1 for over a full season and has been the World Junior Champion, and Asian, All England, and Canadian Open Champion. During her career, Michelle Li has won numerous accolades, including winning 2 medals for Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games. Her positive outlook and dedication make her a role model for many aspiring badminton players.
