David G. Freeman

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David G. Freeman
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Pasadena Flash
Date of birth	1920
Place of birth	Pasadena, California
Date of death	June 28, 2001 (age 80)
Place of death	Rancho Santa Fe, California

Country	United States
Handedness	Right

Dr. David G. Freeman (1920 - 2001) was an American badminton player from California who became an icon in the sport's history.

1 Badminton Career
2 Major Achievements in Badminton
3 Other Sports
4 References

[edit] Badminton Career

From early in 1939, at the age of eighteen, until his final tournament match fourteen years later, Freeman was undefeated in singles competition^[1]. Displaying his characteristic quickness, agility, and shot-making precision, Freeman won the prestigious All-England Championship on his only try (1949) and remains the sole American to win the men's singles here^[2]. After apparently retiring from badminton in 1950 to concentrate on a career in neurosurgery, Freeman made a brief comeback in 1953 winning the four tournaments that he entered including the U.S. National Championship^[3]. He is the only American born male to be inducted into both the U.S. and World Badminton Halls of Fame^[4].

[edit] Major Achievements in Badminton

Tournament	Event	Year
U.S. Championships	Men's Singles	1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1953
	Men's Doubles	1940, 1941, 1942, 1947, 1948
	Mixed Doubles	1940, 1941, 1942
All-England Championships	Men's Singles	1949
Danish Open	Men's Singles	1949
Toronto Invitational	Men's Singles	1953

[edit] Other Sports

Freeman's racket sport exploits were not limited to badminton. He won the U.S. Junior Tennis Championship in 1938^[5], the U.S. Army Tennis Championship in 1947; the New England Squash title in 1945; and a variety of table tennis tournaments.