In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 11 February 1971
- Birthplace
- Tasikmalaya, West Java
- Country
- Indonesia
- Nationality
- Indonesian
- Known for
- Winning Indonesia’s first Olympic gold medal at Barcelona 1992
- Olympic medals
- Gold 1992 · Bronze 1996
- World title
- Women’s singles, 1993
- All England titles
- Four
- Historic first
- Indonesia’s first Olympic gold medallist
Why this life matters
Susi combined speed, endurance and tactical control to dominate a golden period of women’s badminton and change Indonesia’s Olympic history.
Timeline
Key moments
Won the World Cup
Captured the first of several major international singles titles.
First All England title
Began a run of four championships at badminton’s historic tournament.
Won Olympic gold
Defeated Bang Soo-hyun in Barcelona to claim Indonesia’s first Olympic gold medal.
Became world champion
Won the women’s singles title at the IBF World Championships.
Added Olympic bronze
Reached the podium again at the Atlanta Games.
A complete singles game
Susi Susanti entered Indonesia’s national training system as a teenager. Her low centre of gravity, court coverage, patience and precision made her exceptionally difficult to break down in long matches.
The first Olympic gold
Badminton became an Olympic medal sport at Barcelona 1992. Susi won the women’s singles final shortly before Alan Budikusuma won the men’s title, placing badminton at the centre of Indonesian Olympic identity.
A champion across formats
Beyond the Olympics, Susi won the world championship, four All England titles and helped Indonesia win the Uber Cup. Her sustained results established a standard for later Indonesian champions and broadened the visibility of women in national sport.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Susi Susanti
- Who is Susi Susanti?
- Susi Susanti is an olympic and world champion badminton player. Susi combined speed, endurance and tactical control to dominate a golden period of women’s badminton and change Indonesia’s Olympic history.
- What is Susi Susanti best known for?
- Susi Susanti is best known for winning Indonesia’s first Olympic gold medal at Barcelona 1992.
- When and where was Susi Susanti born?
- Susi Susanti was born on 11 February 1971 in Tasikmalaya, West Java.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 8 September 2026.
