Lin Dan wins again as China sweeps badminton golds

Tuesday, August 07, 2012 - London—Badminton great Lin Dan saw something he’s never seen before. Tears from his China head coach Li Yongbo.

“Boys cry, too,” Lin said on Sunday after he became the first man to win two Olympic singles titles. “He couldn’t control his tears. I rarely see him cry so he must be very emotional.”

Li Yongbo’s overwhelming joy also came from seeing something neither he nor anyone else has seen.

A sweep of all five badminton gold medals in the Olympics.

After winning the men’s and women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles at the last two world championships, China became the first team to do it in the Olympics.

They missed out in Beijing when Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng lost the men’s doubles final, but Cai and Fu came through on Sunday, the first Chinese men to win the doubles.

The entire team and coaches celebrated in Wembley Arena after most of the sellout crowd had gone, by forming a circle on the court and cheering and bowing to the few fans left. They then posed for group photos on the podium and let Li Yongbo wear every gold medal.

“The Chinese team made their best personal efforts,” he said. “As players we all have responsibility to achieve the best results and defeat our rivals. We don’t need to consider anything else.”—AP