Zhao Yunlei

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhao.

Zhao Yunlei (born 25 August 1986) is a mixed and women's doubles badminton player from China. She graduated with a BA from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She is the first and only badminton player to have ever won two gold medals in the same Olympic edition, winning in both the mixed and women's doubles categories in 2012. Zhao joins the ranks with nine other players with two Olympic gold medals, the highest number of gold medals won by any badminton player. Through her performance at the 2014 and 2015 BWF World Championships, she became the first player to win two gold medals in two consecutive BWF World Championships.

Zhao Yunlei 赵芸蕾
Zhao Yunlei at the 2009 East Asian Games.
Personal information
Country	China
Born	(1986-08-25) 25 August 1986 (age 38) Yichang, China[1]
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight	61 kg (134 lb)[2]
Spouse	Hong Wei ​ (m. 2018)​
Handedness	Right
Coach	Chen Qiqiu
Women's & mixed doubles
Highest ranking	1 (WD with Cheng Shu, 5 November 2009) 1 (WD with Tian Qing, 20 September 2012) 1 (XD with Zhang Nan, 27 January 2011)
Medal record Women's badminton Representing  China Olympic Games 2012 London Mixed doubles 2012 London Women's doubles 2016 Rio de Janeiro Mixed doubles World Championships 2011 London Mixed doubles 2014 Copenhagen Women's doubles 2014 Copenhagen Mixed doubles 2015 Jakarta Women's doubles 2015 Jakarta Mixed doubles 2009 Hyderabad Women's doubles 2011 London Women's doubles 2010 Paris Women's doubles 2013 Guangzhou Women's doubles 2013 Guangzhou Mixed doubles Sudirman Cup 2011 Qingdao Mixed team 2013 Kuala Lumpur Mixed team 2015 Donggguan Mixed team Uber Cup 2012 Wuhan Women's team 2014 New Delhi Women's team 2016 Kunshan Women's team Asian Games 2010 Guangzhou Women's doubles 2010 Guangzhou Women's team 2014 Incheon Mixed doubles 2014 Incheon Women's team 2010 Guangzhou Mixed doubles 2014 Incheon Women's doubles Asian Championships 2011 Chengdu Mixed doubles 2012 Qingdao Mixed doubles 2012 Qingdao Women's doubles 2016 Wuhan Mixed doubles 2007 Johor Bahru Women's doubles 2011 Chengdu Women's doubles 2013 Taipei Mixed doubles Asia Team Championships 2016 Hyderabad Women's Team East Asian Games 2009 Hong Kong Women's team 2013 Tianjin Women's team 2009 Hong Kong Women's doubles Asian Junior Championships 2004 Hwacheon Girls' doubles 2004 Hwacheon Girls' team
BWF profile

Zhao Yunlei
Traditional Chinese	趙芸蕾
Simplified Chinese	赵芸蕾
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhào Yúnlěi

As of the 2015 BWF World Championships, she has become the most successful player in the World Championship medal count, with a total of ten medals, overtaking Gao Ling, who has a total of nine. In addition, by winning the 2015 BWF World Championships mixed doubles title, she and partner Zhang Nan have won three World Championship mixed doubles titles, the first pairing ever to have done so. Zhao had won numerous prestigious titles both in the mixed and women's doubles including the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and All England Open Championships, as well as the World Mixed Team Championships (Sudirman Cup), World Women's Team Championships (Uber Cup), Asian Games Women's Team gold medal, and Asia Women's Team Championships.

She is regarded by many as one of the best female doubles players in the history of badminton alongside past greats, such as former teammate Gao Ling. Zhao has achieved massive overall success in both the mixed and women's doubles, having won a total of 63 individual career titles (38 in mixed, 25 in women's doubles). Among these 63 individual titles, 42 of them are Superseries titles (27 in mixed, 15 in women's doubles), making her the third most successful player in terms of overall Superseries achievements, and the most-successful female player in this regard as well. After the 2016 Olympics, Zhao retired from international badminton competition.

Zhao Yunlei in 2013

Career

Zhao played with Tian Qing in the women's doubles and with Zhang Nan in the mixed doubles. She first achieved the world number 1 in the BWF World ranking with partner Cheng Shu in November 2009. She then partnered with Zhang Nan in the mixed and occupied the world number 1 in January 2011. After separated with Cheng, Zhao competed in the women's doubles event with Tian Qing, and again topped the world ranking in September 2012.

2010

Zhao and Zhang won the 2010 All England Open mixed doubles title, being the first players and pairing to have ever won the title through beginning at the qualifying stage. Zhao and Tian won the 2010 Asian Games gold medal after vanquishing compatriots Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang 20–22, 21–15, and 21–12. Zhao also participated in China's women's team which gain a gold medal too.

2011

In January, Zhao and Zhang won the World Superseries Finals (having held during January 2011) in Taipei. They defeating Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam of Thailand 21–17, 21–12 in the final. Zhao also reached the final in the women's doubles with Cheng. Two weeks later, they triumphed at Seoul by winning the Korea Open. In the final, they conquered compatriots Tao Jiaming and Tian Qing. Zhao and Tian reached the women's doubles final as well. In August, at the 2011 BWF World Championships in London, Zhao and Zhang won the mixed doubles title, with this being Zhao's first ever overall World Championship gold medal and first ever mixed doubles World Championship gold medal. She also won a silver medal in the women's doubles with Tian as well. In October, Zhao and Zhang reached the Denmark Open mixed doubles semi-final but they lost to Denmark's Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen 12–21, 21–14, and 20–22. However, Zhao and Zhao managed to reverse this, by winning against Fischer Nielsen and Pedersen in the mixed doubles finals at both the Hong Kong and China Open's. In December, Zhao and Zhang won the World Superseries Finals, successfully defending the title first won in January of the 2011 year.

2012

In July–August at the London Olympics, she won two gold medals in the mixed doubles with Zhang Nan and women's doubles with Tian Qing.

2013

In August, at the 2013 BWF World Championships in Guangzhou, she won bronze in both the mixed doubles with Zhang and the women's doubles with Tian.

2014

In August, at the 2014 BWF World Championships in Copenhagen, she won both the mixed doubles with Zhang and the women's doubles with Tian, with this being Zhao's first World Championship women's doubles gold medal. In September, Zhao and Zhang won the 2014 Asian Games mixed doubles title, avenging the loss from four years ago. In December, Zhao and Zhang won the Dubai World Superseries Finals. Zhao was also awarded as the 2014 BWF Female Player of the Year.

2015

In August, at the 2015 BWF World Championships in Jakarta, she successfully defended her titles in both the mixed and women's doubles with partner Zhao and Tian respectively.

2016

In April–May, Zhao and Zhang won the Asian Championships. In August, she and Zhang won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This is her third Olympic medal in addition to the two golds won four years ago.

2018

One and a half years after her retirement from the international tournaments, Zhao returning to the national team as an assistant coach.^[3]

Personal life

Zhao was in a relationship with her mixed doubles partner, Zhang Nan. But just before the 2016 Summer Olympics, she announced that they had parted ways. In 2018, she married Hong Wei, another former national teammate and men's doubles shuttler.

Achievements

Olympic Games

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2012	Wembley Arena, London, Great Britain	Tian Qing	Mizuki Fujii Reika Kakiiwa	21–10, 25–23	Gold

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2012	Wembley Arena, London, Great Britain	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–11, 21–17	Gold
2016	Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–7, 21–11	Bronze

BWF World Championships

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2009	Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, India	Cheng Shu	Zhang Yawen Zhao Tingting	21–17, 17–21, 16–21	Silver
2010	Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Paris, France	Cheng Shu	Ma Jin Wang Xiaoli	21–10, 10–21, 13–21	Bronze
2011	Wembley Arena, London, England	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	20–22, 11–21	Silver
2013	Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou, China	Tian Qing	Chang Ye-na Eom Hye-won	16–21, 19–21	Bronze
2014	Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	21–19, 21–15	Gold
2015	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Tian Qing	Christinna Pedersen Kamilla Rytter Juhl	23–25, 21–8, 21–15	Gold

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2011	Wembley Arena, London, England	Zhang Nan	Chris Adcock Imogen Bankier	21–15, 21–7	Gold
2013	Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou, China	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	21–15, 18–21, 13–21	Bronze
2014	Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–12, 21–23, 21–13	Gold
2015	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Zhang Nan	Liu Cheng Bao Yixin	21–17, 21–11	Gold

Asian Games

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2010	Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	20–22, 21–15, 21–12	Gold
2014	Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea	Tian Qing	Nitya Krishinda Maheswari Greysia Polii	17–21, 21–19, 17–21	Bronze

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2010	Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China	Zhang Nan	Shin Baek-cheol Lee Hyo-jung	19–21, 14–21	Silver
2014	Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	21–16, 21–14	Gold

Asian Championships

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2007	Bandaraya Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia	Cheng Shu	Yang Wei Zhao Tingting	10–21, 11–21	Silver
2011	Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	13–21, 10–21	Silver
2012	Qingdao Sports Centre Conson Stadium, Qingdao, China	Tian Qing	Bao Yixin Zhong Qianxin	21–14, 21–15	Gold

Mixed doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2011	Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	15–21, 21–15, 25–23	Gold
2012	Qingdao Sports Centre Conson Stadium, Qingdao, China	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–13, 21–12	Gold
2013	Taipei Arena, Taipei, Chinese Taipei	Zhang Nan	Ko Sung-hyun Kim Ha-na	20–22, 17–21	Silver
2016	Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	16–21, 21–9, 21–17	Gold

East Asian Games

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2009	Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Hong Kong	Cheng Shu	Zhang Dan Zhang Zhibo	13–21, 10–21	Bronze

Asian Junior Championships

Girls' doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2004	Hwacheon Indoor Stadium, Hwacheon, South Korea	Ding Jiao	Feng Chen Pan Pan	5–15, 15–8, 15–12	Gold

BWF Superseries (42 titles, 27 runner-ups)

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,^[4] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011.^[5] Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2008	Japan Open	Cheng Shu	Chin Eei Hui Wong Pei Tty	21–19, 5–21, 21–18	Winner
2008	China Masters	Cheng Shu	Zhang Dan Zhang Zhibo	21–14, 21–11	Winner
2008	Hong Kong Open	Cheng Shu	Zhang Yawen Zhao Tingting	14–21, 13–21	Runner-up
2009	All England Open	Cheng Shu	Zhang Yawen Zhao Tingting	13–21, 15–21	Runner-up
2009	Indonesia Open	Cheng Shu	Chin Eei Hui Wong Pei Tty	16–21, 16–21	Runner-up
2009	China Masters	Cheng Shu	Du Jing Yu Yang	15–21, 15–21	Runner-up
2009	French Open	Cheng Shu	Ma Jin Wang Xiaoli	13–21, 8–21	Runner-up
2010	Korea Open	Cheng Shu	Mizuki Fujii Reika Kakiiwa	21–16, 21–15	Winner
2010	All England Open	Cheng Shu	Du Jing Yu Yang	22–20, 16–21, 13–21	Runner-up
2010	Japan Open	Cheng Shu	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	17–21, 6–21	Runner-up
2010	China Open	Cheng Shu	Ma Jin Zhong Qianxin	Walkover	Winner
2010	World Superseries Finals	Cheng Shu	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	7–21, 17–21	Runner-up
2011	Malaysia Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	21–12, 6–21, 21–17	Winner
2011	Korea Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	18–21, 21–19, 4–21	Runner-up
2011	Singapore Open	Tian Qing	Ha Jung-eun Kim Min-jung	21–13, 21–16	Winner
2011	Denmark Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	20–22, 16–21	Runner-up
2011	French Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	24–26, 15–21	Runner-up
2011	Hong Kong Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	12–21, 2–14 retired	Runner-up
2012	Korea Open	Tian Qing	Ha Jung-eun Kim Min-jung	21–18, 21–13	Winner
2012	All England Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	21–17, 21–12	Winner
2012	Indonesia Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	21–17, 9–21, 16–21	Runner-up
2012	Hong Kong Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	22–20, 14–21, 21–17	Winner
2013	All England Open	Cheng Shu	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	18–21, 10–21	Runner-up
2013	Singapore Open	Tian Qing	Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi	21–19, 21–16	Winner
2013	French Open	Tian Qing	Bao Yixin Tang Jinhua	13–21, 17–21	Runner-up
2014	Indonesia Open	Tian Qing	Ma Jin Tang Yuanting	Walkover	Winner
2014	Australian Open	Tian Qing	Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi	21–15, 21–9	Winner
2014	China Open	Tian Qing	Wang Xiaoli Yu Yang	16–21, 21–19, 20–22	Runner-up
2014	Hong Kong Open	Tian Qing	Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi	21–13, 21–13	Winner
2014	Dubai World Superseries Finals	Tian Qing	Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi	17–21, 14–21	Runner-up
2015	Japan Open	Zhong Qianxin	Christinna Pedersen Kamilla Rytter Juhl	21–12, 21–16	Winner
2015	Denmark Open	Tian Qing	Jung Kyung-eun Shin Seung-chan	Walkover	Runner-up
2015	Hong Kong Open	Tian Qing	Tang Yuanting Yu Yang	21–15, 21–12	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2008	China Open	Xu Chen	Lee Yong-dae Lee Hyo-jung	16–21, 15–21	Runner-up
2010	All England Open	Zhang Nan	Nova Widianto Liliyana Natsir	21–18, 23–25, 21–18	Winner
2010	Japan Open	Zhang Nan	Tao Jiaming Tian Qing	21–19, 22–20	Winner
2010	China Open	Zhang Nan	Tao Jiaming Tian Qing	18–21, 17–21	Runner-up
2010	Hong Kong Open	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	20–22, 21–14, 20–22	Runner-up
2010	World Superseries Finals	Zhang Nan	Sudket Prapakamol Saralee Thungthongkam	21–17, 21–12	Winner
2011	Korea Open	Zhang Nan	Tao Jiaming Tian Qing	21–17, 13–21, 21–19	Winner
2011	Indonesia Open	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	20–22, 21–14, 21–9	Winner
2011	Hong Kong Open	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	15–21, 21–17, 21–17	Winner
2011	China Open	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	21–11, 21–14	Winner
2011	World Superseries Finals	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–13, 21–15	Winner
2012	Malaysia Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–12, 21–9	Winner
2012	Hong Kong Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–17, 21–17	Winner
2012	World Superseries Finals	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	21–17, 12–21, 14–21	Runner-up
2013	Korea Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	13–21, 21–16, 21–13	Winner
2013	All England Open	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	13–21, 17–21	Runner-up
2013	Indonesia Open	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	24–22, 20–22, 21–12	Winner
2013	China Masters	Zhang Nan	Yoo Yeon-seong Eom Hye-won	21–18, 21–12	Winner
2013	Japan Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	Walkover	Winner
2013	Denmark Open	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	21–11, 22–20	Winner
2013	French Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	28–26, 21–18	Winner
2013	World Superseries Finals	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	21–12, 19–21, 10–21	Runner-up
2014	Korea Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–18, 21–18	Winner
2014	All England Open	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	13–21, 17–21	Runner-up
2014	Japan Open	Zhang Nan	Michael Fuchs Birgit Michels	21–12, 21–16	Winner
2014	China Open	Zhang Nan	Yoo Yeon-seong Eom Hye-won	23–25, 21–14, 21–18	Winner
2014	Hong Kong Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–14, 21–19	Winner
2014	Dubai World Superseries Finals	Zhang Nan	Liu Cheng Bao Yixin	21–15, 21–12	Winner
2015	All England Open	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	21–10, 21–10	Winner
2015	Malaysia Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	21–16, 21–14	Winner
2015	Singapore Open	Zhang Nan	Lu Kai Huang Yaqiong	Walkover	Winner
2015	Indonesia Open	Zhang Nan	Xu Chen Ma Jin	17–21, 16–21	Runner-up
2015	Japan Open	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	21–17, 18–21, 21–23	Runner-up
2015	Korea Open	Zhang Nan	Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir	21–16, 21–15	Winner
2015	China Open	Zhang Nan	Joachim Fischer Nielsen Christinna Pedersen	21–19, 17–21, 21–19	Winner
2015	Hong Kong Open	Zhang Nan	Liu Cheng Bao Yixin	21–17, 17–21, 21–17	Winner

  BWF Superseries Finals tournament

  BWF Superseries Premier tournament

  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix (7 titles, 2 runner-ups)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017.

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2008	Macau Open	Cheng Shu	Ma Jin Wang Xiaoli	21–15, 21–18	Winner
2009	German Open	Cheng Shu	Pan Pan Tian Qing	18–21, 21–13, 21–16	Winner
2010	German Open	Cheng Shu	Ma Jin Wang Xiaoli	22–24, 15–21	Runner-up
2011	Thailand Open	Tian Qing	Bao Yixin Cheng Shu	21–7, 21–8	Winner
2016	Thailand Masters	Tian Qing	Tang Yuanting Yu Yang	11–21, 21–12, 23–21	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2008	Macau Open	Xu Chen	Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama Chau Hoi Wah	21–15, 21–16	Winner
2009	German Open	Xu Chen	Zheng Bo Ma Jin	21–18, 23–21	Winner
2009	Malaysia Grand Prix Gold	Xu Chen	Zheng Bo Ma Jin	5–5 retired	Runner-up
2010	Bitburger Open	Zhang Nan	Michael Fuchs Birgit Overzier	22–20, 21–9	Winner

  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament

  BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (1 title)

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2007	Austrian International	Cheng Shu	Pan Pan Tian Qing	21–18, 21–13	Winner

  BWF International Challenge tournament

  BWF International Series tournament

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Category	Result
Badminton World Federation	2022	Badminton Hall of Fame	Placed

References

1. "Zhao Yunlei won 2 Olympic Gold Medals in London". en.hubei.gov.cn. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Zhao Yunlei". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
3. Jong (1 February 2018). "Zhao Yunlei to return…as coach". sportscn.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2021 – via Badzine.net.
4. "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
5. "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". www.ibadmintonstore.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.

External links

• Zhao Yunlei at BWF.TournamentSoftware.com
• Zhao Yunlei at BWFBadminton.com
• Zhao Yunlei at Olympedia
• Zhao Yunlei at Olympics.com
• Zhao Yunlei at the Chinese Olympic Committee (archived)
• Zhao Yunlei at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games at the Wayback Machine (archived 23 June 2011)