Valencia, Spain: Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan marked his 43rd birthday with a simple family celebration in Spain, offering fans a rare glimpse of life away from the courts alongside his wife, former world champion Xie Xingfang, and their 10-year-old son Xiaoyu.
Rather than a large public celebration, the occasion centered on family. Images and video shared from Valencia showed Xiaoyu helping prepare birthday noodles and eggs for his father, with Xie nearby in the kitchen.
Lin later shared family photos from the celebration, including relaxed pictures with Xie, giving badminton fans a different look at the retired two-time Olympic champion nearly six years after he ended his professional career.
Watch Lin Dan Celebrate His 43rd Birthday With His Family
Watch Lin Dan, Xie Xingfang and their son Xiaoyu celebrate the badminton great’s 43rd birthday together in Spain:
Birthday Noodles Prepared by Lin Dan’s Son
One of the most memorable moments from the family celebration was the birthday meal prepared with help from Xiaoyu.
The 10-year-old was shown cooking noodles and eggs in the kitchen before serving the meal to his father. Lin finished the bowl, including the soup, turning a traditional birthday meal into the centerpiece of a low-key family occasion.
For a player whose career was defined by Olympic finals, World Championships and packed badminton arenas, the scene was notably different: no competition, no podium and no elaborate ceremony, just time with his family.
Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang Support Son’s Tennis Journey
Xiaoyu has not followed his parents directly into competitive badminton. Instead, he has developed an interest in tennis and has been training in Valencia.
Both Lin and Xie have publicly supported their son’s choice rather than pushing him toward the sport that made both of his parents world champions.
Lin has previously explained his approach simply: badminton was his own passion, not necessarily his son’s.
The decision also allows Xiaoyu to develop his own sporting identity without every performance automatically being measured against the extraordinary badminton careers of his parents.
Xie Xingfang Accompanies Xiaoyu in Valencia
Xie has spent extended periods in Valencia supporting their son’s schooling and tennis development, while Lin continues to divide his time between family commitments in Spain and badminton-related projects in China.
When Lin is in Valencia, family videos have shown a much more ordinary side of the former world No. 1: preparing meals, accompanying his son and watching his tennis development from courtside.
It is a striking contrast to the intensity that defined Lin’s playing career, when he became one of the most successful men’s singles players in badminton history.
Lin Dan Remains Active in Badminton After Retirement
Although Lin retired from professional competition in 2020, badminton remains a major part of his life.
He continues to be involved with the Lin Dan Cup series and other badminton initiatives in China.
In May 2026, construction began on the Beijing Foreign Studies University Affiliated Hainan Foreign Language School–Lin Dan International Badminton Education Center in Chengmai, Hainan. The overall project has a planned investment of RMB700 million and includes both academic facilities and a professional sports training zone, with RMB180 million allocated specifically to the badminton training component.
The project reflects Lin’s continued involvement in developing the sport beyond his own competitive career, particularly at the youth and education level.
Life After a Legendary Badminton Career
Lin Dan remains one of the most recognizable names in badminton.
The former China star won Olympic men’s singles gold medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, captured five World Championships titles and built one of the most decorated careers the sport has seen.
His wife Xie Xingfang was also one of the leading women’s singles players of her generation, winning world titles before retiring from international competition.
Today, however, their sporting attention at home is increasingly focused on their son’s own path rather than recreating the careers of his parents.
A Different Side of “Super Dan” at 43
For badminton fans accustomed to seeing Lin Dan under the pressure of major championships, his 43rd-birthday celebration offered something much quieter.
A bowl of noodles prepared with his son, photographs with Xie Xingfang and an evening spent together in Valencia showed the family side of a player long known around the badminton world as “Super Dan.”
Even after retirement, Lin remains closely connected to badminton through events and youth-development projects. But on his birthday, the trophies and titles took a back seat to family.
Happy Birthday Lin Dan!! 🎂🎂
