| | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 May 1986 Aalborg, Denmark |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Spouse | Kamilla Rytter Juhl |
| Sport | |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sport | Badminton |
| Handedness | Right |
| Retired | 11 March 2019 |
| Women's & mixed doubles | |
| Highest ranking | 2 (WD with Kamilla Rytter Juhl 10 May 2018) 1 (XD with Joachim Fischer Nielsen 2 April 2015) |
| BWF profile | |
Medal record | |
Christinna Pedersen (born 12 May 1986) is a Danish badminton player. [1] Known for her smart play, exceptional defensive skills, consistency, and strong cooperation with her partners, she represented Denmark for many years at the highest level of international badminton and became a dominant figure in both European and World competitions. [2] Throughout her illustrious career, she became one of the few players to achieve world-class status in two different categories simultaneously, reaching a career-high ranking of world number 1 in the mixed doubles and number 2 in the women's doubles. [3] Pedersen officially announced her retirement from international competition in March 2019, leaving behind a legacy as one of Europe's most successful badminton athletes. [4] [5]
Pedersen formed a formidable and long-standing partnership with Kamilla Rytter Juhl. Together, they achieved historic milestones, most notably winning the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which made them the first European pair to reach an Olympic women's doubles final. Their dominance was also evident in Europe, where they secured four consecutive European Championships titile. Additionally, they were regular contenders on the global stage, winning the season ending-finale in 2013 and earning multiple medals at the BWF World Championships, including a silver in 2015 and two bronze medals in 2013 and 2017. [2] [3]
Pedersen's career in the mixed doubles was equally spectacular, primarily through her partnership with Joachim Fischer Nielsen. The duo was a powerhouse on the BWF Superseries circuit, capturing ten titles and winning the World Superseries Finals three times. Their greatest achievement together was winning the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, a feat that solidified Pedersen's reputation as a big-match player. She also claimed two European mixed doubles titles and two bronze medals at the World Championships with Fischer Nielsen in 2009 nad 2014, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the BWF World Rankings as the number one mixed doubles pair in the world. [2] [3]
In recognition of Pedersen impact on badminton, she was honored at the Badminton Europe Gala with induction into the BEC Hall of Fame in 2023, [6] and Badminton Denmark Player of the Year in 2011 with Fischer Nielsen and again in 2013 with Rytter Juhl. [7] Beyond her achievements on the court, Pedersen is also known for her longstanding personal and professional partnership with Rytter Juhl, with whom she publicly came out as a lesbian couple after many years and later married in 2020. Pedersen has transitioned into a performance coach for Badminton England since 2025. [8]
Born on 12 May 1986, in Aalborg, Pedersen lived in her hometown until 2006, where her childhood was deeply connected to the local sports community. [9] She began playing badminton at the age of six, a path she chose because her parents were already active players in the sport. [10] Her early development took place at the Gug Badminton Klub, where she is remembered for having her "badminton upbringing" before moving to Copenhagen to join the national training center. [11] During her teenage years, she achieved significant national recognition by winning the Danish U-15 girls' doubles title in the 2000/2001 season.
Pedersen emerged as a rising star in Danish badminton by dominating the junior circuit before transitioning to senior competition. In 2005, she achieved a major breakthrough by winning the gold medal in the team and mixed doubles and a silver medal in the girls' doubles at the European Junior Championship. [12] Her talent was further recognized at the club level, where she helped her team, Vendsyssel Elite Badminton (VEB), win the promotion play-offs to enter the top-tier Badmintonligaen for the 2005-2006 season. By 2006, her performance on the international stage continued to ascend, as she secured a second-place finish in mixed doubles at the Portugal International. This successful transition was formalized when she officially became a member of the Danish national team in 2006, marking the start of her elite professional career. [10]
From 2008 onwards, Pedersen paired with Joachim Fischer Nielsen in mixed doubles. The pair gained two European mixed doubles titles, won bronze at the 2009 Hyderabad World Championships and at the 2014 World Championships, [13] and came third at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [14] Pedersen and Fischer Nielsen also produced strong results on the BWF Super Series circuit, winning a total of three World Superseries Finals and ten Superseries titles, and reaching a career high World Ranking of number 1.
Viewed by Badminton Denmark as a medal contender for the 2020 Olympics, Pedersen will compete in the mixed doubles with Mathias Christiansen as of the end of the 2016/17 season, after Joachim Fischer Nielsen broke his left ankle at the BWF World Championships 2017 in Glasgow. [15]
In women's doubles, Pedersen has paired with Kamilla Rytter Juhl from 2010 to 2018. Initially, the two athletes also focussed on competing with their respective partners in mixed doubles, however, as of 2015, Juhl has competed exclusively in the women's doubles. The pair won a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2013 Guangzhou World Championship and at the 2017 BWF World Championships. Pedersen and Rytter Juhl have won a total of four European women's doubles titles, one World Superseries Final and five Superseries titles, and have a career highest World Ranking of number 2. The pair won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and, in doing so, became the first Europeans to ever compete in an Olympic women's doubles final. This was also her second olympic medal.
Pedersen currently represents Skovshoved in the Danish Badminton League and lives in Copenhagen, where she trains with the national team. Off the badminton court, Pedersen is a qualified maths, history and food technology teacher.
Pedersen announced her retirement in March 2019 together with Rytter Juhl. The duo journey in badminton will continue in the national tournament. [16]
Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl have been together since 2009. Juhl gave birth to daughter Molly in January 2019. [17]
Pedersen and Rytter Juhl's autobiography, "Det Unikke Makkerskab" (loosely translated: The unique partnership), written with support from journalist Rasmus M. Bech, was released in Denmark in October 2017.
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | | | 21–18, 9–21, 19–21 | |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Wembley Arena, London, Great Britain | | | 21–12, 21–12 | |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou, China | | | 14–21, 21–14, 15–21 | |
| 2015 | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | | | 25–23, 8–21, 15–21 | |
| 2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland | | | 17–21, 21–19, 14–21 | |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, India | | | 18–21, 21–14, 18–21 | |
| 2014 | Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | | | 15–21, 9–21 | |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Telenor Arena, Karlskrona, Sweden | | | 22–20, 13–21, 21–12 | |
| 2014 | Gymnastics Center, Kazan, Russia | | | 21–11, 21–11 | |
| 2016 | Vendéspace, La Roche-sur-Yon, France | | | 21–18, 21–17 | |
| 2017 | Sydbank Arena, Kolding, Denmark | | | 21–11, 15–21, 21–11 | |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gymnastics Center, Kazan, Russia | | | 22–24, 21–13, 21–18 | |
| 2016 | Vendéspace, La Roche-sur-Yon, France | | | 19–21, 21–13, 21–17 | |
| 2017 | Sydbank Arena, Kolding, Denmark | | | 17–21, 21–18, 19–21 | |
| 2018 | Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Huelva, Spain | | | 18–21, 21–17, 18–21 | |
Girls' doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | De Maaspoort, Den Bosch, Netherlands | | | 15–13, 7–15, 16–17 | |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | De Maaspoort, Den Bosch, Netherlands | | | 15–8, 15–5 | |
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, [18] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100. [19]
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Malaysia Masters | Super 500 | | | 22–20, 21–18 | |
| 2018 | All England Open | Super 1000 | | | 21–19, 21–18 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | India Open | Super 500 | | | 21–14, 21–15 | |
| 2018 | Korea Open | Super 500 | | | 18–21, 16–21 |
The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, [20] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011. [21] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Malaysia Open | | | 21–19, 21–18 | |
| 2012 | French Open | | | 12–21, 21–23 | |
| 2012 | World Superseries Finals | | | 16–21, 14–21 | |
| 2013 | India Open | | | 21–12, 21–23, 18–21 | |
| 2013 | Japan Open | | | 11–21, 14–21 | |
| 2013 | Denmark Open | | | 16–21, 13–21 | |
| 2013 | World Superseries Finals | | | 21–19, 21–12 | |
| 2014 | Singapore Open | | | 21–14, 19–21, 15–21 | |
| 2015 | Japan Open | | | 12–21, 16–21 | |
| 2015 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | | | 21–14, 9–21, 4–14 retired | |
| 2016 | Japan Open | | | 19–21, 21–18, 21–12 | |
| 2016 | Hong Kong Open | | | 21–19, 21–10 | |
| 2017 | All England Open | | | 18–21, 13–21 | |
| 2017 | Singapore Open | | | 21–18, 14–21, 21–15 | |
| 2017 | Australian Open | | | 10–21, 13–21 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Denmark Open | | | 21–14, 21–17 | |
| 2009 | Japan Open | | | 21–13, 16–21, 20–22 | |
| 2009 | Denmark Open | | | 21–16, 25–27, 21–17 | |
| 2009 | World Superseries Finals | | | 21–14, 21–18 | |
| 2010 | Hong Kong Open | | | 22–20, 14–21, 22–20 | |
| 2011 | Japan Open | | | 19–21, 21–16, 15–21 | |
| 2011 | Denmark Open | | | 22–20, 21–16 | |
| 2011 | French Open | | | 21–17, 21–14 | |
| 2011 | Hong Kong Open | | | 21–15, 17–21, 17–21 | |
| 2011 | China Open | | | 11–21, 14–21 | |
| 2012 | World Superseries Finals | | | 17–21, 21–12, 21–14 | |
| 2013 | Malaysia Open | | | 21–13, 21–18 | |
| 2013 | Indonesia Open | | | 22–24, 22–20, 12–21 | |
| 2013 | China Open | | | 10–21, 21–5, 17–21 | |
| 2013 | World Superseries Finals | | | 12–21, 21–19, 21–10 | |
| 2014 | Malaysia Open | | | 11–21, 21–17, 13–21 | |
| 2014 | India Open | | | 21–16, 18–21, 21–18 | |
| 2014 | Indonesia Open | | | 18–21, 21–16, 21–14 | |
| 2015 | India Open | | | 19–21, 19–21 | |
| 2015 | Japan Open | | | 17–21, 21–18, 23–21 | |
| 2015 | China Open | | | 19–21, 21–17, 19–21 | |
| 2016 | All England Open | | | 12–21, 17–21 | |
| 2016 | Denmark Open | | | 21–16, 22–20 | |
| 2017 | China Open | | | 15–21, 11–21 | |
| 2017 | Hong Kong Open | | | 15–21, 13–21 |
The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | London Grand Prix Gold | | | 12–21, 21–17, 21–15 | |
| 2015 | Malaysia Masters | | | 21–14, 21–14 | |
| 2015 | German Open | | | 21–18, 17–21, 21–9 | |
| 2017 | Syed Modi International | | | 21–16, 21–18 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dutch Open | | | 21–16, 21–14 | |
| 2008 | Bitburger Open | | | 21–8, 17–21, 20–22 | |
| 2008 | Dutch Open | | | 21–17, 21–9 | |
| 2011 | Swiss Open | | | 23–21, 21–14 | |
| 2013 | Swiss Open | | | 22–20, 21–19 | |
| 2015 | Malaysia Masters | | | 21–18, 21–18 | |
| 2015 | German Open | | | 18–21, 17–21 |
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Czech International | | | 2–15, 1–15 | |
| 2006 | Czech International | | | 17–21, 21–13, 22–20 | |
| 2007 | Swedish International | | | 13–21, 14–21 | |
| 2007 | Finnish International | | | 19–21, 21–10, 21–11 | |
| 2007 | Polish Open | | | 17–21, 14–21 | |
| 2007 | Czech International | | | 21–11, 22–20 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Finnish International | | | 11–21, 15–21 | |
| 2006 | Portugal International | | | 13–21, 21–14, 18–21 | |
| 2006 | Czech International | | | 16–21, 12–21 | |
| 2007 | Swedish International | | | 21–12, 21–8 | |
| 2007 | Portugal International | | | 21–12, 21–6 | |
| 2007 | Czech International | | | 21–19, 21–12 |