For almost his entire life, Frederik Søgaard has been defined by badminton. As a child in Odense, with a racket as an extension of his arm. As a silver medalist at the Junior World Championships. As a professional elite player in Badminton Denmark’s national setup. And as part of the world’s elite in men’s doubles.
Therefore, it was no small decision when, after the 2025 World Championships, he decided to step out of the system. Not to become an independent player outside the federation like, for example, Anders Antonsen or Viktor Axelsen. Not to take a break with a view to a comeback. But to stop and ask himself a fundamental question:
Does this still make sense?
To find the answer, we have to rewind time to before the 2025 World Championships in Paris.
Because long before the World Championships in Paris, cracks had already begun to appear in the narrative Frederik Søgaard himself had been living in. Outwardly, everything was as it should be: training at the highest level, competing in international tournaments, and a daily life structured around goals and performance. Inwardly, it looked different for Frederik Søgaard. The joy was no longer a given, and the inner motivation that for years had carried him through long training sessions and tough periods had begun to waver.
It was not a single moment that triggered the doubt. Rather, it was a slow realization that had crept in over time. Frederik Søgaard’s sense of well-being within the national setup was on a downward curve.
When everything changed
After the World Championships, Søgaard had agreed in advance with the national team management that he would take two weeks off, something he had also been advised to do.
“There had been many things going on. I needed to unplug for a bit.”
But while he was away from the training hall, changes happened in the doubles setup. His partnership with Rasmus Kjær came to an end when Kjær wanted a new partner. Changes in partnerships are something that happens in badminton, often after big Championships, and it is also something Frederik Søgaard has experienced a couple of times in his career. But suddenly Frederik Søgaard was left without a fixed place in the system he had been part of for eight years.
“I got time to reflect on how I was actually feeling. And it dawned on me that things no longer added up for me.”
For an elite athlete, that is a harsh realization. When what should be a passion feels like a burden. When everyday life becomes characterized by duty rather than desire.
“When you spend all your time, your resources, and your finances on something, and you’re not happy doing it, then it doesn’t make sense.”
The trips to Asia, which once were an adventure and a source of new experiences, now instead became associated with greater pressure and financial concern, as there are many expenses involved in traveling around the world to play badminton.
At the same time, when he looked at the journey ahead. Having to start over with a new partner, investing more money, and traveling even more, he could no longer see himself in it.
“It was a long journey again. Time, money, and time away from the people I love. I couldn’t see that happening.”
A new life in badminton on his own terms
Today, Søgaard still makes a living from badminton, but in a completely different way. He plays league matches in Denmark, Germany, and France, and works as a training partner for some national teams. Currently, he is working with Germany and Spain.
As he himself describes it:
“I go there for a week at a time, train with the players and give feedback to both players and coaches. I’m on the court together with the players. I see the game from the inside.”
This is exactly where he feels his strength lies.
“I see the game really well when I’m on the court. I pick up systems and patterns quickly, and it’s an advantage that I’m inside the game. I’m a training partner and mentor who passes on my experiences. I know what it’s like to play against the best Asians in the world, and what they are exceptionally good at, and therefore what you must train in order to be able to compete with them in the real world.”
For Frederik Søgaard right now, it is therefore about helping to raise the level and the quality of training in the places where he is hired.
At home, big changes are also happening, as Frederik and his girlfriend are expecting their first child. This new set up also provides security for Frederik, knowing that when he is away from his family, there will be a stable income that does not depend on the results of a single match, and that he himself can be in charge of deciding when and how often he is away from his family.
No hard feelings
Søgaard emphasizes that the decision was not a confrontation with individuals or a desire to turn his back on the badminton environment.
“There are no hard feelings. I have a good relationship with Badminton Denmark.”
He remains in contact with Team Denmark, participates in conversations with sports psychologists, and regularly meets coaches and staff when he stops by "Idrættens Hus", where Badminton Denmark is based.
The relationship with his former partner and good friend, Rasmus Kjær, is also beginning to find its form again. The two, who for 4 years were both partners and close friends in private, have resumed contact.
“We were good friends, not just partners. So of course it was also tough. Now we see each other privately again, grab a coffee, and take things slowly.”
For Søgaard, it was important that the choice to stop did not mean burning bridges but rather finding a new way to be part of the sport.
Mentor and perspective for the next generation
Alongside life on the court, Søgaard has started as a volunteer mentor in Team Denmark’s mentor program, where he follows a young athlete outside of badminton.
“I feel that I’ve been through quite a lot, including injuries, lack of well-being, partner changes, and big fluctuations in my career. I’d like to pass that on.”
For him, the mentor role is not just about performance, but about the person behind the athlete.
“You have to remember the whole person in order to perform as well. It can’t be only about sport all the time.”
Such a program is something Frederik Søgaard himself could have benefited from when he was young, and it is precisely this desire to give something back and pass it on to the next generation of elite athletes that motivates him.
Will we see Frederik Søgaard on the big stage again?
Although Frederik Søgaard has not amassed a long list of major international titles, he has nonetheless been part of the world elite and the World Tour for many years, even though he is still only 28 years old. Given his age, there should therefore be many years left for him at the top level. The question, however, is whether we will once again get the chance to see him compete in the very biggest tournaments and championships.
“Right now, I’m very satisfied with the setup I’m running at the moment, and I’m happy to be in it. So for now, my focus is on making it work, and therefore my thoughts are not on returning to the World Tour. Whether those thoughts will come in the future, I don’t know. Only time will tell.”
