Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen announces separation from wife

Axelsen shared the news on social media on Wednesday, describing the decision as mutual.

"Life doesn’t always go as planned," he wrote on X. "Natalia and I have decided to part ways on good terms. Our primary focus will be on our two amazing girls and being the best possible parents for them during this difficult time. We kindly ask that everyone respect our privacy, and we don’t have further comments."

Axelsen, 31 and Rohde, 30, married in March 2021 after several years together. They have two daughters, Vega, born in 2020 and Aya, born in 2022.

Viktor Axelsen with his wife Natalia Koch Rohde and their daughter Vega. Photo by Instagram/@viktoraxelsen

Axelsen is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time world champion and four time European champion. In his prime, he held the number one in men’s singles world ranking for a total of 183 weeks. He is currently 18th.

Rohde, a former Danish international badminton player, retired in 2018 after winning multiple European titles. Her father, Henrik Rohde, was also part of Axelsen’s coaching team before the Olympic champion brought in Peter Gade as coach, according to New Straits Times.

In 2021, Axelsen relocated with his family to Dubai, citing health reasons and the need to ease his demanding travel schedule in Asia. He is currently training at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

The announcement follows just a week after Axelsen withdrew from the World Championships to prioritize his recovery from recent back surgery.