Madrid, Spain – Danish badminton star Amalie Magelund, a gold medalist at the 2025 European Championships, has announced she is pregnant and will take a break from international competition. The news, confirmed by Badminton Denmark, marks a significant moment for the 25-year-old and her partner, fellow badminton player Mathias Thyrri.
“Mathias and I are incredibly happy that we are going to be parents, and we are really looking forward to the coming time,” Magelund said in a statement released through Badminton Denmark. “It will definitely be exciting, challenging, and tough. During and after the pregnancy, I will attempt to stay active – both with badminton and strength training, because my intention is definitely to return to badminton at the highest level after giving birth.”
Magelund emphasized her desire to serve as an example for other female badminton players in Denmark, demonstrating that it’s possible to balance a successful athletic career with motherhood. “For me, it is also important to be able to show other women in Danish badminton that it is possible to have a child during your career and then return to the sport afterwards,” she added.
Jens Meibom, Elite and Sports Director at Badminton Denmark, extended his congratulations to Magelund. “huge congratulations to Amalie. It’s wonderful news, and we wish her all the best in the coming time. We are pleased for her and happy that she wants to return to elite badminton when she is ready – we would very much like to see that happen,” Meibom stated.
Magelund is currently competing at the European Championships in Spain, scheduled from April 6th to April 12th. Following the tournament, she will pause her badminton activities. This pause will necessitate a new partner for Jesper Toft, her current mixed doubles teammate. The situation also impacts the men’s doubles team of William Boe and Andreas Søndergaard, who recently agreed to end their partnership after finding it wasn’t a successful sporting fit, following their pairing after the VICTOR Denmark Open in October of last year.
Adding to the reshuffling within the Danish badminton program, Amalie Cecilie Kudsk is also currently without a partner following Natasja Anthonisen’s departure from the National Elite Training Center (NETC). Badminton Denmark is actively engaged in discussions with Toft, Boe, Søndergaard, and Kudsk to determine the best path forward, though no decisions regarding future pairings have been finalized.
“We are now starting to discuss future sporting projects with the four players,” Meibom explained. “Given that the process involves four players, it will naturally take some time, but we will spend the necessary time to reach up with the best possible solutions.”
Magelund’s success in doubles play has been a cornerstone of Denmark’s recent badminton achievements. She and Thyrri reached the mixed doubles final at the Canada Open in July 2023, falling in a close three-set match to Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito of Japan. They followed that with another final appearance at the US Open, again losing in three sets, this time to Ye Hong-wei and Lee Chia-hsin of Taiwan. Amalie Magelund’s partnership with Thyrri has consistently placed them among the top contenders in international competition, reaching a career-high ranking of 20th in mixed doubles in March 2024, according to Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings. Mathias Thyrri himself has a highest ranking of 44 in men’s doubles.
The news of Magelund’s pregnancy comes after a strong showing for Denmark at the 2024 European Men’s Team Championships, where Thyrri was part of the gold medal-winning team. The Danish team defeated France in the final, securing the title in Łódź, Poland in February. Magelund and Thyrri also reached the semi-finals of the mixed doubles event at the 2024 European Badminton Championships in Saarbrücken, Germany, before being defeated by the French pair of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.
While Magelund’s immediate future is focused on motherhood, her commitment to returning to the sport remains firm. Her planned active approach to pregnancy and post-partum recovery signals a determination to continue her successful badminton career. The Danish badminton community will undoubtedly be watching with anticipation as she embarks on this new chapter.
The next confirmed checkpoint for Magelund is the completion of her participation at the European Championships in Spain. Following that, all eyes will be on her recovery and preparation for a potential return to competitive badminton.
What are your thoughts on Amalie Magelund’s announcement? Share your well wishes and predictions for her future in the comments below!
