BEIJING — The “Bad Boy of Badminton” suddenly collapsed. He dropped to the court, sprawled on his back and pressed his hands to his numbing head.
“At that moment, my mind was totally blank, fully relaxed,” Lin Dan said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
He suddenly remembered. The Chinese badminton savior unleashed a Phelps-like primal scream and then threw his gold-winning racket into the stands of frenzied fans. Next, his shoes. He then sprinted toward the first row, jumping into the outstretched arms of his countrymen, Lin’s own version of the “Lambeau Leap” (the “Beijing Bounce”?).
On Sunday, Lin won Olympic gold in the badminton singles — 2-0 against Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia — securing his status as his sport’s 1.3-billion watt star. The hotshot 24-year-old entered these Games as No. 1 in the world but also with encompassing pressure to win gold in his homeland’s Olympics.
“Before the Games, I had a lot of sleepless nights, because I’m always concentrating on the matches,” Lin said. “It was a very tough experience.”
Lin is known for his fist-pumping flair, his bad-boy rebelliousness and his shuttle-cockiness. He’s also a heartthrob, according to the Chinese media. He dates female badminton star Xie Xingfang, much to the dismay of 650 million or so Chinese women.
On a bus ride to the venue, two journalists were talking about him, one saying he was told by a Chinese sales clerk that “all girls think he’s handsome.”
“My wife, too,” said the other journalist, who was an English-speaking Chinese man. “I’m supposed to take pictures for her.”
John McEnroe never had this much sex appeal.
And while the Olympic bios of most athletes explain their wholesome rise in athletics, Lin’s describes his near-fight with a South Korean coach at a tournament, as well as an incident when it was reported he punched his own coach, though Lin denied said action.
Sunday night he was on his best behavior. The Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium was part rock concert, part heavyweight fight.
Fans roared when he entered the arena, as if a defending boxing champion was walking into the ring. Cameras flashed. Fans waved flags, making it a sea of red.
As for the action, Lin was overpowering, delivering numerous vicious slams. This ain’t backyard badminton. On this stage, shots go as fast as 160 mph. Lin delivered several, leaping into the air, freezing for a snapshot second, and then whipping his racket on the shuttlecock past his helpless opponent.
When it was over, and the gold medal was hanging on his proud chest, Lin said, “I think this match is one of the best matches I’ve ever played.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
