To a record-breaking Danish rival he is "the greatest ever player". To millions of fans he is simply Super Dan. Lin Dan's gripping showdown with a long-time rival, Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, showed why he is a legend in the badminton world and his homeland. The four-times world champion added his hard-won gold to the one he took at the Beijing Games in 2008. That time, too, he was fighting off Lee.
His jubilation at becoming the first man to retain the badminton singles title was uncontrollable. It took a tackle by his beaming coaches to halt his celebratory sprint around the court — and his grin was unstoppable after he secured his 15-21, 21-10, 21-19 win.
Perhaps it also reflected some relief: this summer he had crashed out at the Thai Open in Bangkok, to the shock of many. But the 28-year-old had already claimed the "Super Grand Slam", as the only player to have won all nine major titles. "I don't think that anyone is close to him, to be honest … He is the best player ever," the Denmark's former world No1 Peter Gade said recently. Lin, from southern Fujian province, took up the sport at five.
"From the very first time I walked into a badminton hall and picked up a racquet, there was no turning back. I knew I never wanted to leave the court," he once told an interviewer.
The left-hander joined the sports division of the People's Liberation Army eight years later and has been on the national team since he was 18.
His cheekbones and pecs have won him as many admirers as his skill with a racket. The vast range of products he has endorsed testifies to his Beckham-esque appeal. "First of all, his record in badminton is fabulous," said Zhu Chong of China's Economic Observer newspaper. "Secondly, he's good looking. He is very easy to promote. Thirdly, he has a distinctive character. Many athletes won't tell the public they have a girlfriend, but he has never felt shy about talking about it.
"Actually, Chinese athletes are not allowed to have relationships with members of the same team, but Lin Dan talked about it and did high-profile things for his girlfriend, like giving her flowers. That all attracted a lot of attention: the media love to write about it and people like to read gossip. On top of that, he knows how to express himself."
Two years ago Lin wed his long-term sweetheart Xie Xingfang, herself a former badminton world champion. They were nicknamed the "Condor couple" in reference to a Chinese novel featuring a fiery warrior and his calmer lover: Lin has engaged in public spats in the past, and once had to take to his blog to deny reports he had hit his coach.
He has admitted to feeling pressure: "Every player gets nervous. When you're young it's because you're excited, it's the first time you wear your national colours. When you're older, it's because there's a lot of expectation."
He had also warned that the men's game has become far more competitive than it was four years ago and vowed to use every day before the Games to prepare and improve.
It may well be his final Olympics. This spring he acknowledged his phenomenal run is entering its last stages.
In March he said he would probably continue playing after the Games.
But days later, after taking his fifth All England title, he swapped shirts with Lee in a gesture of friendship, telling reporters: "We are both reaching the end of our careers and the game is not always about winning and losing. It's something more important."
Whether his arch-rival agrees in the aftermath of a second Olympics defeat at Lin's hands is another matter.