In a historic moment for French badminton, 20-year-old Alex Lanier has etched his name in the record books as the youngest men’s singles champion in the history of the European Badminton Championships. The rising star clinched the title at the 2025 edition of the tournament, held in Horsens, Denmark, on April 13, 2025, breaking a record previously set by Danish legend Peter Gade in 1998.
Lanier, born on January 26, 2005, achieved this milestone at just 20 years and 77 days old, surpassing Gade’s record set at 21 years and 132 days. In an all-French final, he faced compatriot Toma Junior Popov, delivering a masterful performance to win 21-17, 21-18 in straight games. The victory not only marked Lanier’s first senior European title but also highlighted the growing dominance of French badminton on the continental stage.
The final was a showcase of Lanier’s composure and skill. After a closely contested first game, he found his rhythm, pulling ahead with a four-point run to secure a 21-17 lead. In the second game, tied at 8-8, Lanier’s aggressive play and precise shot-making allowed him to break away, clinching the match with a 21-18 scoreline. “I’m tired now, and also proud,” Lanier said post-match. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done as a team. I knew I had the weapons to win this title, and I think I did well until the end.”
Lanier’s journey to this historic win has been nothing short of remarkable. Starting badminton at age three, he joined the Dives-sur-Mer club before moving to Strasbourg in 2019 to compete in France’s elite interclub division. At 15, he joined INSEP, France’s national sports institute, honing his skills alongside top talents. His junior career was equally stellar, with gold medals at the 2022 European Junior Championships and bronze at the 2023 World Junior Championships. In 2024, Lanier made headlines by becoming the first French player to win a BWF World Tour Super 750 event at the Japan Open, defeating world No. 1 Shi Yuqi in the semifinals.
The 2025 season has seen Lanier’s star rise further. After early exits at the Malaysia and India Opens, he claimed his first Super 300 title at the Orleans Masters in March and reached the semifinals of the All England Open, entering the BWF top 10 on March 11, 2025. His European Championships triumph cements his status as a prodigy, with a current world ranking of No. 10 and a career win tally of 180 matches across singles and doubles.
This victory is a turning point for European badminton, signaling a generational shift. France’s strong showing, with Toma Junior and Christo Popov also reaching the podium, underscores the country’s growing influence in the sport. As Lanier sets his sights on the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals (April 27–May 4, 2025) and the BWF World Championships in Paris (August 25–31, 2025), fans are buzzing with anticipation. Can this young Frenchman continue his meteoric rise and challenge the world’s elite? The badminton world is watching closely.
