Paris 2024 will mark Brian Yang’s second Olympic appearance, having first competed as the youngest member of Canada’s badminton team at Tokyo 2020. This year, Yang won men’s singles bronze at the Pan Am Championships and has enjoyed great success in competitions. Here is what you need to know:
Hometown: Richmond Hill
Sport: Badminton
Background: Yang won men’s singles silver at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima before going on to win two gold medals at the Junior Pan Am Championships in both men’s singles and doubles.
Once he made his Olympic debut in Tokyo, Yang continued to make waves in the sport. In 2021, he was the co-flag bearer for Team Canada at the Junior Pan Am Games where he won gold in singles and mixed doubles. Yang had his first appearance at the senior BWF World Championships, reaching the men’s singles round of 16.
Yang competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, achieving a career-high world ranking of number 21 in men’s singles. In 2023, he won gold in men’s singles at the Pan Am Games in Santiago. At the 2023 BWF World Championships, Yang reached the round of 32 in men’s singles.
Career highlights: In 2016, Yang won the U19 singles national title at age 14, making him the youngest junior champion ever in all of Canada. The following year, Yang became the youngest ever U23 national champion when he won the singles title at age 15.
Yang represented Canada at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018, winning gold as a member of Team Alpha in the mixed team relay. In 2019, Yang became the youngest badminton athlete to ever win the senior national singles title.
At the Indonesia Masters this year, Yang reached the finals of the BWF Super Tour 500 event, earning a silver medal and defeating a top-five ranked player.
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Where it all started: Yang became interested in badminton after observing his parents’ enjoyment of the sport. At the age of eight, he entered his first tournament with very little experience. He managed to win a U10 singles title and a cash reward. From there on, Yang began formal badminton training. After watching the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, he discovered a desire to represent Canada someday.
Fun fact: Yang is currently studying kinesiology with the goal of becoming an athletic therapist. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games.
Olympic event dates: Men’s singles group play (July 29).
Social media: Instagram
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