Heading to China: The Beginning of a Monumental Challenge

Tomorrow I’m flying to China—and this is not just another trip. In a few weeks, one of the most exciting and challenging projects of my entire professional career will begin. And perhaps it’s precisely because of the challenge, the complexity, and the need to build something almost from scratch that this project means so much to me. I’ve always felt a natural pull toward difficult challenges. They’ve been the driving force behind every professional decision I’ve made.

This new project involves the creation of an international badminton academy, covering everything from grassroots development to high performance, founded by four partners—including Olympic champion Zheng Siwei. I will take on the role of co-founder and head of the sports science department. Our goal is to build a training and development center based on long-term athlete development models, with the mission of helping each player reach their full potential—whether that means competing at the highest level, earning a university scholarship, or simply integrating sport into a healthy lifestyle.

We want to challenge the traditional idea that elite training is reserved for a select few. Our ambition is to open the doors of high-performance training to more people, without compromising on quality. We are aiming to build a model that combines excellence and accessibility, just as other industries have already achieved.

One of the foundational pillars of this project is our commitment to lifelong learning—not only for athletes, but also for coaches and professionals. We strongly believe that development doesn’t end with initial training. That’s why we’re creating an environment where continuous improvement, knowledge updates, and shared reflection are part of the daily culture. Learn, unlearn, and relearn: that will be one of the driving forces of our academy.

We’re also fortunate to be located within the University of Science and Technology, which provides the ideal environment to combine training, science, and technology. From day one, we’ve approached this project with a holistic mindset: our team will include physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and strength and conditioning coaches. It’s not just about training harder—it’s about training smarter, and understanding the athlete as a whole.

My responsibility won’t be a small one: leading a multidisciplinary team and helping to create an environment that blends the best of Chinese training systems with the latest in Western sports science. We don’t yet know if the project will succeed—only time can answer that—but we are absolutely committed to giving it everything we’ve got. As Martin Buchheit, one of the people who has most inspired my journey, once said: “Content is king, but context is god.” And understanding the context in which we operate is, without a doubt, the first step.

One of the things I value most about this project is that it allows me to maintain a balance: I’ll remain closely connected to high-performance sport—an essential part of my career—without needing to be physically present at all times. I’ll be there whenever possible, especially during key moments for the performance department, but I’ll also have the flexibility to continue developing other projects that inspire me and reflect my commitment to global sports development.

A new stage is beginning—demanding, exciting, and full of potential.