Aksel Kryhlmand
As they step away from international badminton, Fruergaard and Thygesen leave behind a legacy of consistency, camaraderie, and quiet excellence, a partnership that stood the test of time in one of the sport’s most demanding disciplines.
After more than a decade of partnership, Danish women’s doubles players Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen have officially said goodbye to the international badminton stage.
The duo, who played their final match together in October, announced their retirement on Tuesday, marking the end of a 12-year journey that took them from junior hopefuls to Olympians.
“Still a Strange Feeling”
Though the decision had been coming for months, Fruergaard admitted that the final goodbye brought on a wave of emotion.
It’s always a bit bittersweet. We’ve known this was coming and tried to prepare for it mentally, so I felt pretty settled about it. But it’s still a strange feeling when you’re standing there saying the official goodbye
The pair’s last tournament as a duo came in the fall of 2024. Since then, both athletes have played with new partners, but in March they confirmed that they were stepping away from the international circuit altogether.
The Things They’ll Miss Most
Despite their clarity about the decision, both players acknowledged how much they would miss the day-to-day life of professional sport.
There’s a lot I’ll miss. Definitely the daily routine, coming in to train hard and being around teammates you can spar with.
Fruergaard echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the relationships forged over years of shared effort.
It’s all the people you spend so much time with. Some you’ve known for many years, others not as long, but they’ve still had a big impact on you. It’s hard to just stop seeing them every day.
New Chapters Begin
As the grind of international tournaments and training camps fades, both players are turning the page and focusing on their next steps.
For Maiken Fruergaard, that could mean a future in law enforcement:
I’m hoping to get into police academy in a few months. That would fill a big part of my calendar. I also had a part-time job alongside badminton, which I’m continuing for now, just to stay busy.
Sara Thygesen, meanwhile, is nearing the end of her academic journey at Copenhagen Business School, where she has been studying part-time throughout her playing career.
I just have my thesis left, so it’s really nice to finally have time to focus on that, fewer travel days means more time for writing. After that, we’ll see if I can find a relevant job that fits my degree. It’s something completely new. Very exciting, but also a bit daunting.
Olympic High Point
The pair’s most notable achievement came in the summer of 2025, when they reached the quarterfinals at the Olympic Games in Paris. It was a defining milestone in their careers and a testament to their chemistry, persistence, and tactical nous on court.
As they step away from international badminton, Fruergaard and Thygesen leave behind a legacy of consistency, camaraderie, and quiet excellence, a partnership that stood the test of time in one of the sport’s most demanding disciplines.