Morten Frost

Morten Frost
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Mr Badminton
Birth name	Morten Frost Hansen
Country	Denmark
Born	(1958-04-04) 4 April 1958 Nykøbing Sjælland, Odsherred, Denmark.
Handedness	Right
Men's singles
Highest ranking	1
Medal record Men's badminton Representing Denmark World Championships 1985 Calgary Men's singles 1987 Beijing Men's singles World Games 1981 Santa Clara Men's singles World Cup 1985 Jakarta Men's singles 1986 Jakarta Men's singles 1983 Kuala Lumpur Men's doubles Sudirman Cup 1989 Jakarta Mixed team Thomas Cup 1979 Jakarta Men's team 1990 Tokyo Men's team European Championships 1984 Preston Men's singles 1986 Uppsala Men's singles 1980 Groningen Men's singles 1984 Preston Men's doubles 1988 Kristiansand Men's singles European Mixed Team Championships 1980 Groningen Mixed team 1986 Uppsala Mixed team 1988 Kristiansand Mixed team 1990 Moscow Mixed team 1984 Preston Mixed team European Junior Championships 1975 Copenhagen Mixed team 1975 Copenhagen Boys' singles

Morten Frost Hansen (born 4 April 1958) is a badminton player and later coach, who represented Denmark. As a player, he spent twelve years in the top three of the world rankings. After his retirement in 1991, he became director of performance for Badminton Denmark and also coaches in Malaysia and South Africa. He has been appointed Badminton Association of Malaysia's national technical director from 2015 to 2020, and later as the performance director of Badminton England.

Badminton career

During his career, Frost won almost every available top level championship, except the World Championships where he scored a silver medal twice (1985 and 1987). When he lost his second World Championship in the finals, the headlines rang out "The World's greatest badminton player may never be World Champion." While this may be the enduring footnote to his career, Frost dominated at the much coveted All England Open Badminton Championships. He won that tournament in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1987. He also was European champion in 1984 and 1986. He won the Nordic championship each year from 1978 through 1984 and again in 1988.

Frost is also distinguished by winning all of the invitational Grand Prix tournaments at least once, including his home country's Denmark Open, of which he was champion 1980-1986 and 1989. Morten Frost represented Denmark on the national team from 1976 to 1991, longer than anyone else.

Noted for his exceptionally smooth and fluid footwork, Frost's playing style was something of a cross between the traditional singles game featuring numerous clears (lobs) and drops, with smashes often reserved for weak returns, and the modern singles game featuring more smashing from the outset of a rally to create openings.

Morten Frost was inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.

Coaching career

After his playing years were over, he went on to successfully coach the Danish national team. During his tenure as coach, the Danish national squad achieved over 20 major international wins, including an Olympic gold medal in 1996, six gold medals and three silver medals at the European Championships in 1996, the men's singles titles at the 1995 and 1996 All England Championships, and a gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the World Championships in 1995. He later coached the national teams of Malaysia and South Africa. Frost also worked as a commentator on the BBC's TV coverage of the badminton tournament at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In 2015, Frost accepted a contract to be technical director of the Malaysian national team until the end of 2020. Early 2017, Frost had a fallout with Malaysian former world number 1 player Lee Chong Wei regarding what Lee considered unfair treatment towards him after an injury. In September 2017, Frost resigned from his position in Malaysia, citing personal reasons.

In February 2019, Frost signed a one-year contract to coach India's junior players at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.

In 2020, Frost has been appointed as the performance director of Badminton England.

Achievements

World Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1985	Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada	Han Jian	18–14, 10–15, 8–15	Silver
1987	Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China	Yang Yang	2–15, 15–13, 12–15	Silver

World Cup

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1985	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Icuk Sugiarto	11–15, 15–8, 4–15	Silver
1986	Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia	Icuk Sugiarto	15–5, 6–15, 11–15	Silver

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Jens Peter Nierhoff	Bobby Ertanto Christian Hadinata	11–15, 15–4, 13–15	Bronze

World Games

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1981	San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States	Chen Changjie	15–9, 7–15, 12–15	Silver

European Championships

Men's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1980	Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands	Flemming Delfs	4–15, 15–1, 14–17	Silver
1984	Guild Hall, Preston, England	Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–8, 15–2	Gold
1986	Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden	Ib Frederiksen	15–8, 15–2	Gold
1988	Badmintonsenteret, Kristiansand, Norway	Darren Hall	15–8, 12–15, 9–15	Silver

Men's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1984	Guild Hall, Preston, England	Jens Peter Nierhoff	Martin Dew Mike Tredgett	8–15, 10–15	Silver

European Junior Championships

Boys' singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1975	Copenhagen, Denmark	Bruno Wackfelt	15–18, 2–15	Silver

IBF World Grand Prix (32 titles, 12 runners-up)

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1983	Swedish Open	Misbun Sidek	15–9, 10–15, 13–15	Runner-up
1983	All England Open	Luan Jin	2–15, 15–12, 4–15	Runner-up
1983	Scandinavian Open	Prakash Padukone	18–17, 15–2	Winner
1983	World Grand Prix Finals	Luan Jin	2–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1984	Chinese Taipei Open	Hastomo Arbi	15–11, 15–7	Winner
1984	Japan Open	Liem Swie King	15–1, 18–15	Winner
1984	Scottish Open	Kevin Jolly	15–11, 15–2	Winner
1984	Denmark Open	Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–1, 15–2	Winner
1984	All England Open	Liem Swie King	9–15, 15–10, 15–10	Winner
1984	Malaysia Open	Icuk Sugiarto	9–15, 4–15	Runner-up
1984	Scandinavian Open	Han Jian	15–10, 15–9	Winner
1984	World Grand Prix Finals	Liem Swie King	15–5, 15–4	Winner
1985	Hong Kong Open	Yang Yang	10–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1985	Denmark Open	Sung Han-kuk	15–4, 15–5	Winner
1985	All England Open	Zhao Jianhua	15–6, 10–15, 15–18	Runner-up
1985	English Masters	Steve Baddeley	15–12, 11–15, 15–11	Winner
1985	Malaysia Masters	Misbun Sidek	15–4, 15–7	Winner
1985	Scandinavian Open	Lius Pongoh	15–5, 15–8	Winner
1986	German Open	Michael Kjeldsen	15–4, 15–3	Winner
1986	Scandinavian Open	Torben Carlsen	15–5, 15–5	Winner
1986	All England Open	Misbun Sidek	15–2, 15–8	Winner
1986	Denmark Open	Michael Kjeldsen	15–9, 15–10	Winner
1986	English Masters	Sze Yu	15–8, 15–5	Winner
1986	World Grand Prix Finals	Yang Yang	13–18, 8–15	Runner-up
1987	Poona Open	Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–11, 15–11	Winner
1987	All England Open	Icuk Sugiarto	15–10, 15–0	Winner
1987	English Masters	Steve Baddeley	18–13, 15–18, 15–12	Winner
1988	Poona Open	Ib Frederiksen	15–10, 15–9	Winner
1988	German Open	Xiong Guobao	15–4, 15–6	Winner
1988	All England Open	Ib Frederiksen	15–8, 7–15, 10–15	Runner-up
1988	French Open	Icuk Sugiarto	10–15, 15–6, 2–15	Runner-up
1988	English Masters	Ardy Wiranata	15–8, 15–8	Winner
1988	Scottish Open	Nick Yates	15–7, 15–5	Winner
1989	Chinese Taipei Open	Eddy Kurniawan	15–12, 15–3	Winner
1989	Swedish Open	Alan Budikusuma	15–4, 15–4	Winner
1989	All England Open	Yang Yang	6–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1989	German Open	Steve Baddeley	15–6, 15–4	Winner
1989	Denmark Open	Zhao Jianhua	15–12, 15–13	Winner
1989	Scottish Open	Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–2, 15–5	Winner
1990	Finnish Open	Hermawan Susanto	15–13, 4–15, 15–9	Winner
1990	Japan Open	Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen	15–9, 15–4	Winner
1990	Denmark Open	Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen	15–4, 10–15, 15–17	Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1984	Scottish Open	Jesper Helledie	Duncan Bridge Nigel Tier	15–11, 15–11	Winner
1984	Denmark Open	Jens Peter Nierhoff	Li Yongbo Tian Bingyi	7–15, 2–15	Runner-up

IBF International

Men's singles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Score	Result
1977	USSR International			Winner
1977	Norwegian International	Thomas Angarth	15–2, 15–5	Winner
1978	Nordic Championships	Flemming Delfs	5–15, 15–6, 15–4	Winner
1979	Dutch Open	Flemming Delfs	6–15, 15–3, 15–16	Runner-up
1979	Denmark Open	Flemming Delfs	7–15, 7–15	Runner-up
1979	English Masters	Prakash Padukone	4–15, 11–15	Runner-up
1979	Canadian Open	Flemming Delfs	15–7, 14–17, 15–7	Winner
1979	Randers Open	Flemming Delfs	10–15, 15–18	Runner-up
1979	Nordic Championships	Flemming Delfs	15–6, 15–4	Winner
1980	Copenhagen Cup	Prakash Padukone	15–8, 10–15, 15–9	Winner
1980	Denmark Open	Prakash Padukone	7–15, 13–18	Runner-up
1980	Canadian Open	Steen Fladberg	15–7, 15–11	Winner
1980	Nordic Championships	Thomas Kihlström	15–4, 15–7	Winner
1981	Denmark Open	Prakash Padukone	15–7, 15–5	Winner
1981	Swedish Open	Lius Pongoh	14–18, 13–15	Runner-up
1981	Scandinavian Cup	Prakash Padukone	15–4, 15–11	Winner
1981	Nordic Championships	Flemming Delfs	18–17, 15–5	Winner
1982	Scottish Open	Flemming Delfs	15–4, 15–2	Winner
1982	German Open	Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–12, 13–15, 15–8	Winner
1982	Denmark Open	Prakash Padukone	15–7, 15–8	Winner
1982	All England Open	Luan Jin	11–15, 15–2, 15–7	Winner
1982	Nordic Championships	Jens Peter Nierhoff	15–2, 15–6	Winner
1982	Scandinavian Cup	Prakash Padukone	15–3, 15–4	Winner
1983	Scottish Open	Kevin Jolly	15–2, 15–6	Winner
1983	Dutch Open	Prakash Padukone	15–11, 15–4	Winner
1983	Denmark Open			Winner
1983	Nordic Championships	Michael Kjeldsen	10–15, 15–12, 15–1	Winner
1983	India Masters	Prakash Padukone	15–7, 15–13	Winner
1984	English Masters	Han Jian	15–8, 18–15	Winner
1984	Dutch Masters	Han Jian	9–15, 14–18	Runner-up
1984	Nordic Championships	Jens Peter Nierhoff	17–14, 15–6	Winner
1984	Scottish Open	Zhao Jianhua	12–15, 15–8, 9–15	Runner-up
1984	Welsh International	Darren Hall	15–2, 15–6	Winner
1985	Malaysia Masters	Misbun Sidek	15–4, 15–7	Winner
1986	Bell's Open	Ib Frederiksen	15–6, 15–5	Winner
1983	Nordic Championships	Michael Kjeldsen	12–15, 9–15	Runner-up
1988	Nordic Championships	Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen	15–6, 15–6	Winner

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1976	Czechoslovakian International	Steen Fladberg	Wolfgang Bochow Roland Maywald		Runner-up
1977	USSR International	Steen Skovgaard			Winner
1977	Norwegian International	Mogens Neergaard	Ola Eriksson Christian Lundberg	9–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1979	Swedish Open	Steen Fladberg	Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard	12–15, 15–12, 10–15	Runner-up
1979	Dutch Open	Steen Fladberg	Elliot Stuart Derek Talbot	8–15, 17–18	Runner-up
1979	Canadian Open	Flemming Delfs	Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata	5–15, 1–15	Runner-up
1980	Copenhagen Cup	Steen Fladberg	Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard	8–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1980	Nordic Championships	Steen Fladberg	Claes Nordin Lars Wengberg	3–15, 15–3, 15–11	Winner
1981	Nordic Championships	Steen Fladberg	Flemming Delfs Steen Skovgaard	15–9, 15–5	Winner
1981	Scandinavian Cup	Steen Fladberg	Luan Jin Lin Jiangli	11–15, 15–6, 12–15	Runner-up
1982	German Open	Steen Fladberg	Jiang Guoliang He Shangquan	15–5, 15–6	Winner
1982	Nordic Championships	Steen Fladberg	Jesper Helledie Steen Skovgaard	15–6, 15–18, 15–6	Winner
1983	Nordic Championships	Jens Peter Nierhoff	Stefan Karlsson Thomas Kihlström	12–15, 15–17	Runner-up
1984	English Masters	Jens Peter Nierhoff	Hadibowo Christian Hadinata	3–15, 3–15	Runner-up
1984	Scottish Open	Jens Peter Nierhoff	Andy Goode Nigel Tier	12–15, 15–8, 9–15	Runner-up
1984	Welsh International	Martin Dew	Billy Gilliland Dan Travers	8–15, 15–18	Runner-up
1986	Nordic Championships	Steen Fladberg	Jan-Eric Antonsson Pär-Gunnar Jönsson	15–10, 15–12	Winner

Mixed doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1977	Norwegian International	Pia Nielsen	Mogens Neergaard Inge Borgstrøm	6–15, 3–15	Runner-up
1981	English Masters	Lene Køppen	Mike Tredgett Nora Perry	5–15, 6–15	Runner-up
1982	Scottish Open	Lene Køppen	Billy Gilliland Gillian Gilks	13–18, 9–15	Runner-up
1983	Scottish Open	Nettie Nielsen	Rob Ridder Marjan Ridder	15–9, 6–15, 15–12	Winner

Quotes

• "Jeg hader at tabe mere end de fleste. Jeg har en vilje til at vinde HVER gang!" - Morten Frost
• "I hate to lose more than most. I have the will to win EVERY time!" - Morten Frost (translation of above)
• "He used to give international players in England a 14-0 start. And if they won, the bet was they would take the money. And most of the players would take the bet, but they made very little money. After that they found they couldn't win, so they never took the bet. But that's how you train not to make errors." - Tom John on Morten Frost

References

Cited

General

• En eftermiddag med Morten Frost

Further reading

• "The making of Morten Frost (Anecdotes about Frost)". BadmintonMania.

External links

• Morten Frost Hansen at BWFBadminton.com
• Morten Frost Hansen at BWF.TournamentSoftware.com
• Morten Frost Hansen at the World Games
• Morten Frost at BadmintonDenmark.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 July 2017)