Personal life

Lin is one of the more popular and controversial badminton players active today, due to his flamboyant personality both on and off the court. He is known as a temperamental player, occasionally disrupting matches to protest line calls. He is demonstrative in his celebrations, and has a habit of "playing to the crowd" (after winning the 2008 olympics in Beijing, he threw his shoes and racket into the crowd). He currently has a romantic relationship with fellow Chinese badminton player Xie Xingfang. Lin belongs to the sports troop of the People's Liberation Army and has the military rank of lieutenant colonel.