To most, badminton is just a recreational game, but it is much more than that for Mihaylo College alumnus Howard Bach as he prepares to represent Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics. Bach graduated in May 2007 with a degree in finance but plays badminton professionally and is currently ranked in the international top 30.
His last Olympic appearances include the 2004 Athens games as well as the 2008 Beijing games. In 2004, he and his partner made it to the round of 16, and in Beijing, Bach and his doubles partner at the time, Bob Malaythong, made it to the quarterfinals, advancing farther in the Olympic badminton competition than any other American in history.
After the 2008 Olympics, Malaythong retired and Bach reunited with fellow world champion Tony Gunawan. Bach and Gunawan made history in 2005 by winning the gold medal at the world championship in Anaheim, CA. They were the first USA Badminton athletes to ever win a medal at the World Championship. He says this was the victory he was most proud about, “It was a dream come true because I was victorious in front of 9,000 Americans.” He has also won the gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2011 and 2003 Pan American Games. Bach began playing at the age of 7 at a local YMCA in San Francisco. He attributes much of his success to his family thanks to their unending support, as well as his involvement as a USA Badminton Development Foundation coach.
The opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics is July 27, 2012. Show your Titan Pride and check the schedule HERE to watch Howard Bach go for the gold. Go Titans!
Good stuff Howard. I remember being in a finance class with you and you talked about playing Badminton. I didn’t realize you were Olympic athlete status. Keep it up and represent for the USA and also for the Asian Americans.
So proud of Howard, we met in finance class back in 2005, and since then we are friends. He is a great human being, father, husband, son, and friend; I wish you the best of lucks in this Olympics!!!! Go Howard go titans!!!!
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Great post…really good information :]
Keep it up
Thanks for sharing — good job and keep up the great work mate