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.
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.
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.
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, 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. 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