Peter Gade

Sport: Badminton

Nation: Denmark

DOB: December 14, 1976

Career Highlights: It’s sure to be one of the magical moments of the London Games when Gade takes the court for the final time since he will retire after the Olympics. The Danish veteran is searching for an elusive first medal after amazingly losing to the eventual champion in each of his previous three Olympic appearances. Ironically, the closest Gade came to earning a medal was in his debut at the 2000 Sydney Games when he lost in the semifinals and also fell in the bronze-medal match. Quarterfinal losses followed at the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games. The top-ranked European, Gade has collected one silver medal and four bronzes in the world championships. His most recent bronze came last year after he fell in the semis to world champion Lin Dan. Gade has recently been plagued by a right ankle injury, but that could only add to the drama. He is sure to be a sentimental favorite among badminton fans who are no doubt aware of the storyline of one of the sport’s luminaries closing out an illustrious career.

Olympic History: 2008,2004,2000