New citizen Tony Gunawan looking for USA’s first badminton medal with Howard Bach

Tony Gunawan has more Olympic medals in badminton than the United States has in its history. He’s out to change that. After winning a gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics for his native Indonesia, Gunawan moved to the United States in 2002.

In 2005, with teammate Howard Bach, he brought the U.S. its first world championship medal. But because he wasn’t a U.S. citizen, Gunawan wasn’t allowed to compete in the 2004 or 2008 Olympics.

He wanted to change that too, and did. He passed the U.S. citizenship test last year, just in time for the Pan American Games, where Gunawan and Bach took gold. They’re ranked 21st heading into the London Games. (Bach was born in Vietnam and came to the U.S. when he was 3.)

Gunawan is married to an Olympic badminton athlete. His wife, Eti Gunawan, played women’s doubles in the 2000 Games for Indonesia. They have two sons, Christopher and Leon. Now 37, Gunawan is taking one shot at earning the United States’ first Olympic medal in badminton before going back to his badminton academy in Pomona, Calif., and coaching the next generation of players to what he hopes is the Olympic medal stand.

In the 2000 Olympics, I won the gold medal and then in 2001…

via New citizen Tony Gunawan looking for USA’s first badminton medal – USATODAY.com.