April 15 (Reuters) - Double ⁠Olympic gold medallist Viktor Axelsen retired from professional ⁠badminton on Wednesday, saying he was no ‌longer able to train and compete at the highest level following back surgery in April last year.

The Dane spent more than ​100 consecutive weeks as world ⁠number one, a mark ⁠surpassed in total duration only by Lee Chong Wei, ⁠and ‌won Olympic gold in Tokyo and Paris, as well as a bronze in Rio ⁠in 2016. He also won world championship ​titles in ‌2017 and 2022.