In the end, they made it seem almost inevitable.

Neither the brief moments of nerves, nor injury concerns leading up to Paris 2024, nor the best of the opposition, could prove an uncrossable bridge as Viktor Axelsen and An Se Young kept their date with history.

While Axelsen continued to build on his impeccable record, becoming the most successful men’s singles player at the Olympics with two gold and a bronze, An Se Young reignited her country’s flame at the Olympics in women’s singles after nearly three decades.

It’s easy to forget, given As Se Young’s all-conquering deeds, that she’s only 22. In the 28 years since Bang Soo Hyun, Korea’s returns in women’s singles were meagre.

With An Se Young’s exploits over the past year, it was obvious that she was shaping up well for the gold. Apart from her great game-sense and technical abilities, two qualities stood out – her composure and never-say-die attitude.

However, a knee injury at the Asian Games, which hampered her for a prolonged period, threatened to throw her campaign into disarray. In the months leading up to Paris, An herself seemed unsure of the status of her recovery, or whether it would hold up during the rigours of the campaign.

“It was very difficult to overcome the pain,” An said. “There was a misdiagnosis, and at the end of last year we found it was very bad but we didn’t have time for surgery, so we had to push through and my trainer helped me and that’s why I was able to come here.”

While she countered the challenge from Akane Yamaguchi – who too has struggled this season with injuries — in a great quarterfinal, her uncertainty showed in the semifinal as she struggled to get going against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. Nevertheless, it would take more than a dodgy knee to stop An Se Young, and she seemed more at ease as the match progressed.

The final, of course, was a different story, for she stepped on the gas early and never let go against He Bing Jiao.

In that sense, there was a similarity with Axelsen’s campaign too. The Dane, who’d had modest returns this season (by his standards) due to a foot injury, was in trouble against Lakshya Sen in the semifinals, appearing somewhat shaky at times. Nevertheless, once Sen faulted on serve while holding three game points, Axelsen knew he had his man. One chance was all he needed to reassert himself.

In the final, against an in-form Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Axelsen never allowed his opponent a whiff. The Thai never got the opportunity to dictate the rallies as Axelsen used the considerable weapons at his disposal to pressure him from the start. If the rallies went past the first few exchanges, Axelsen was content to play the waiting game, secure in the belief that Vitidsarn needed to be given pace for his counter-attacking style to be effective. In both tactics and execution, Axelsen’s was a masterclass.

“I remember Lin Dan winning his second gold and I didn’t dare to believe,” Axelsen would say. “I had injury issues as well, and I didn’t dare to believe two months ago, or even yesterday.

“To do it once is crazy; to do it twice… I don’t even know what to say. I’m still a little bit in shock.”